Moving Beyond COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements for Federal Workers

Executive Order 14099 of May 9, 2023

Moving Beyond COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements
for Federal Workers

By the authority vested in me as President by the
Constitution and the laws of the United States of
America, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. Policy. In 2021, based on the best available
data and guidance from our public health experts, I
issued Executive Order 14043 of September 9, 2021
(Requiring Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccination for
Federal Employees), to direct executive departments and
agencies (agencies) to require coronavirus disease 2019
(COVID-19) vaccination for their employees, and
Executive Order 14042 of September 9, 2021 (Ensuring
Adequate COVID Safety Protocols for Federal
Contractors), to ensure that Federal contractors and
subcontractors have adequate COVID-19 safety protocols.
I issued those orders at a time when the highly
contagious B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant was the
predominant variant of the virus in the United States
and had led to a rapid rise in cases and
hospitalizations. Those orders were necessary to
protect the health and safety of critical workforces
serving the American people and to advance the
efficiency of Government services during the COVID-19
pandemic. Following issuance of those orders, my
Administration successfully implemented a vaccination
requirement for the Federal Government, the largest
employer in the Nation, achieving a 98 percent
compliance rate (reflecting employees who had received
at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine or had a
pending or approved exemption or extension request) by
January 2022. More broadly, my Administration has
effectively implemented the largest adult vaccination
program in the history of the United States, with over
270 million Americans receiving at least one dose of
the COVID-19 vaccine.

Following this important work, along with continued
critical investments in tests and therapeutics that are
protecting against hospitalization and death, we are no
longer in the acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, and
my Administration has begun the process of ending
COVID-19 emergency declarations. Our public health
experts have issued guidance that allows individuals to
understand mitigation measures to protect themselves
and those around them. Our healthcare system and public
health resources throughout the country are now better
able to respond to any potential surge of COVID-19
cases without significantly affecting access to
resources or care. Since September 2021, COVID-19
deaths have declined by 93 percent, and new COVID-19
hospitalizations have declined by 86 percent.
Considering this progress, and based on the latest
guidance from our public health experts, we no longer
need a Government-wide vaccination requirement for
Federal employees or federally specified safety
protocols for Federal contractors. Vaccination remains
an important tool to protect individuals from serious
illness, but we are now able to move beyond these
Federal requirements.

Sec. 2. Revocation of Vaccination Requirements.
Executive Order 14042 and Executive Order 14043 are
revoked. Agency policies adopted to implement Executive
Order 14042 or Executive Order 14043, to the extent
such policies are premised on those orders, no longer
may be enforced and shall be rescinded consistent with
applicable law.

Sec. 3. Effective Date. This order is effective at
12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on May 12, 2023.

Sec. 4. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order
shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or
the head thereof; or

(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget
relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

    (b) This order shall be implemented consistent with
applicable law and subject to the availability of
appropriations.
    (c) This order is not intended to, and does not,
create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural,
enforceable at law or in equity by any party against
the United States, its departments, agencies, or
entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any
other person.

    (Presidential Sig.)

THE WHITE HOUSE,

    May 9, 2023.