Biden’s Head Start initiative can’t impose COVID vaccine mandate: US judge

United States federal government lost a legal battle on late Saturday following a verdict from a Louisiana court stating teachers associated with the Head Start programme can not be forced to vaccinate against COVID. The federal mandate has been pushed by the administration of President Joe Biden and challenged by two dozen states.

United States District Judge Terry Doughty wrote that the Biden administration unlawfully bypassed Congress when ordering that workers in Head Start programme be vaccinated by January 31 and that students 2 years or older be masked when indoors or when in close contact outdoors, according to reports from Associated Press.

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Head Start is a centrally funded educational programme kicked off by the federal government with the objective of providing assistance to children under the age of 6 who are from low-income families.

Doughty, an appointee of then-President Donald Trump, wrote that the separation of powers is crucial to the country’s founding and quoted former President Ronald Reagan, who said “the nine most terrifying words in the English language are, ‘I’m from the government and I’m here to help”, according to reports from Associated Press.

Judge Doughty’s verdict on Saturday was praised by multiple state authorities, including attorney generals. Most of these were also members of the Republican party.

Steve Marshall, the Attorney General of Alabama, said in a statement, “This victory will help ensure that numerous Head Start programs will continue to operate rather than have to fire teachers and cut back services to children”, according to Associated Press reports.

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The GOP associate added, “And this win will forestall the nonsensical and damaging practice of forcing masks on two-year-olds.”

States predominantly opposing the mandate include Kansas, Oklahoma, Montana, Arkansas, Alabama, South Dakota, West Virginia, North Dakota, Mississippi, Tennessee, Indiana, Georgia, Missouri, Wyoming among others