01-31-2025

Revocation of Certain Executive Orders

Executive OrderView the Original .pdf
View the Original .pdf

The 1-Minute Brief

What: Executive Order 14174 revokes two previous executive orders from 2021 that required COVID-19 vaccinations for federal employees and employees of federal contractors.

Money: There is no official CBO score for this executive order. The original mandates were estimated to have implementation costs of around $4.4 billion for vaccine administration, paid leave, and testing infrastructure. Revoking the orders eliminates any future costs associated with enforcing these mandates.

Your Impact: For most Americans, there is no direct impact. For federal employees and contractors, this order removes the COVID-19 vaccination requirement as a condition of employment.

Status: Signed and issued by the President on January 21, 2025.

What's Actually in the Bill

Executive Order 14174 is a straightforward revocation of previous executive branch directives. Its core function is to nullify the legal foundation for the federal government's COVID-19 vaccine mandates for its workforce and contractors. The order does not create new policy but rather eliminates policies established by the prior administration.

Core Provisions:

  • Section 1(a): Revokes Executive Order 14042 of September 9, 2021, which mandated COVID-19 safety protocols, including vaccination, for federal contractors.
  • Section 1(b): Revokes Executive Order 14043 of September 9, 2021, which required COVID-19 vaccination for all federal employees, with limited exceptions.
  • Section 2: Includes standard provisions clarifying that the order does not impair the legal authority of executive departments or the functions of the Office of Management and Budget.

Stated Purpose (from the Sponsors):

The preceding administration, which issued the revocation, stated the original orders were issued when the Delta variant was predominant and were deemed necessary to protect the federal workforce and ensure government efficiency. With COVID-19 deaths having declined by 93% since September 2021, the rationale for a government-wide mandate was considered no longer necessary.

Key Facts:

Affected Sectors: Government, Federal Contracting (including defense, technology, and professional services).
Timeline: The revocation of the previous orders was effective as of January 21, 2025.
Scope: The order applies to all executive departments and agencies, their employees, and contractors working on federal projects.

The Backstory: How We Got Here

Timeline of Events:

The Mandate Era (2021-2022):

In the fall of 2021, amidst a surge in the Delta variant of COVID-19, the Biden administration sought to increase vaccination rates. On September 9, 2021, President Biden signed Executive Order 14042 for federal contractors and Executive Order 14043 for federal employees. The policy required millions of federal workers and employees of companies with federal contracts to be fully vaccinated, generally by late 2021, with exceptions only for religious or medical reasons. These actions were among the most far-reaching vaccination mandates in U.S. history. By January 2022, the White House reported a 98% compliance rate among federal employees (including those with pending exemption requests).

Legal and Political Challenges (2021-2023):

The mandates were met with immediate and widespread political opposition and legal challenges. Numerous Republican-led states filed lawsuits arguing the president had overstepped his authority. This led to a series of court battles that resulted in multiple injunctions, temporarily blocking the enforcement of the mandates. A federal judge in Georgia issued a nationwide injunction against the contractor mandate in December 2021. While the federal employee mandate saw higher compliance, it too was subject to legal fights.

The Shift to Endemic and Policy Reversal (2023-2025):

As the pandemic evolved, with new variants and wider population immunity, the public health emergency status of COVID-19 was officially ended on May 11, 2023. This marked a significant policy shift, moving away from emergency measures. Even before this, a successor administration signaled its intent to revoke the mandates, which culminated in the signing of Executive Order 14174 on January 21, 2025.

Why Now? The Political Calculus:

  • Fulfillment of a Political Promise: The revocation fulfills a key promise to constituencies opposed to federal mandates, often framed as an issue of individual liberty and government overreach.
  • Changed Public Health Landscape: With the official end of the COVID-19 public health emergency and a significant decrease in hospitalizations and deaths, the urgency and justification for such a broad mandate have diminished in the view of many policymakers.
  • Economic and Workforce Concerns: Opponents of the original mandates frequently argued they would lead to staffing shortages in critical sectors by forcing unvaccinated employees to resign, a concern shared by some Democrats in swing states.

Your Real-World Impact

The Direct Answer: This directly affects federal government employees and people working for companies that hold federal contracts.

What Could Change for You:

Potential Benefits:

  • For current or prospective federal employees and contractors who are unvaccinated, this removes a significant barrier to employment.
  • Ends the requirement for employers (federal agencies and contractors) to track employee vaccination status and manage exemption requests, reducing administrative burdens.

Possible Disruptions or Costs:

Short-term (First 6 Months):

  • There are no direct costs associated with this order. It may require agencies to update internal HR policies and contract clauses to reflect the change.

Long-term:

  • The primary long-term change is the permanent removal of the COVID-19 vaccine requirement for this segment of the workforce, aligning federal policy with that of most private sector employers.

Who's Most Affected:

Primary Groups:

  • Unvaccinated federal employees and employees of federal contractors.
  • Federal agency and contractor HR departments responsible for implementing and enforcing vaccine policies.

Secondary Groups:

  • Labor unions representing federal employees, who had varied positions on the original mandate.
  • Public health advocates and organizations who supported the mandates as a tool to reduce viral spread.

Regional Impact:

  • The impact is concentrated in areas with a large federal workforce, such as the Washington D.C. metropolitan area, and states with a heavy presence of federal contractors.

Bottom Line: A requirement to be vaccinated against COVID-19 has been lifted for federal workers and contractors, restoring the employment terms that existed prior to September 2021.

Where the Parties Stand

Republican Position: "An Assault on Freedom and Liberty"

Core Stance: Republicans have consistently and strongly opposed federal vaccine mandates, viewing them as an unconstitutional overreach of executive power and an infringement on individual liberty.

Their Arguments:

  • ✓ The revocation restores personal freedom and medical choice for federal workers.
  • ✓ It prevents experienced employees from being fired or resigning over a personal health decision.
  • ✗ The original mandates were an example of government coercion and set a dangerous precedent.
  • ✗ They argued the mandates were counterproductive and deepened political division on public health.

Legislative Strategy: The party's strategy prior to the revocation was to block the mandates through court challenges and to use the Congressional Review Act to try and overturn the rules. The issuance of this executive order aligns with their long-stated policy goals.

Democratic Position: "Protecting the American People"

Core Stance: Democrats largely supported the original mandates as a science-based public health necessity to protect the workforce, the public, and ensure the efficient functioning of government during a pandemic.

Their Arguments:

  • ✓ The original mandates were successful, leading to a 98% compliance rate and saving lives by reducing the spread and severity of COVID-19.
  • ✓ They were a critical tool to keep the economy open and avoid workforce disruptions due to illness.
  • ⚠️ Some Democrats expressed concern about the impact on workers in a tight labor market, but the party largely held that the public health benefits were paramount.
  • ✗ Opposition to the mandates was often characterized as anti-science and politically motivated.

Legislative Strategy: The party's strategy was to implement the mandates and vigorously defend them in court against legal challenges. They now argue that the revocation is a political act that could undermine public health readiness.

Constitutional Check

The Verdict: ✓ Constitutional

Basis of Authority:

The President's authority to issue and revoke executive orders stems from Article II of the U.S. Constitution, which grants the President executive power and designates them as the head of the executive branch. This includes the power to manage the federal workforce. Any president can amend, revoke, or replace executive orders issued by previous administrations.

U.S. Constitution, Article II, Section 1: "The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America."
U.S. Constitution, Article II, Section 3: "...he shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed..."

Constitutional Implications:

[Presidential Authority]: Just as the previous administration claimed authority to issue the mandates to ensure the efficiency and safety of the civil service, the current administration has the clear authority to revoke them based on a different assessment of what is necessary for the workforce.
[Precedent]: It is a long-standing and legally accepted practice for an incoming president to reverse the executive orders of a predecessor. The courts have consistently upheld this power.
[Federalism]: This executive order deals strictly with the federal workforce and federal contractors. It does not impose any requirements on states, thus it does not raise federalism concerns.

Potential Legal Challenges:

It is highly unlikely that the revocation of these executive orders will face a successful legal challenge. The legal battles fought were over the imposition of the mandates, with opponents arguing the President lacked the authority to create such a requirement. Courts have not questioned the President's authority to rescind such directives.

Your Action Options

TO SUPPORT THIS REVOCATION

(If you agree that federal vaccine mandates should be eliminated)

5-Minute Actions:

  • Call Your Rep/Senators: Capitol Switchboard: (202) 224-3121. "I'm a constituent from [Your City/Town] and I am calling to express my support for Executive Order 14174, which revoked the federal employee and contractor vaccine mandates. I thank [Rep./Sen. Name] for any past support on this issue."

30-Minute Deep Dive:

  • Write a Detailed Email: Contact your representatives via their official websites, explaining your support for ending federal mandates and protecting individual medical freedom.
  • Join an Organization: Consider supporting groups that advocate for health freedom and limited government.

TO OPPOSE THIS REVOCATION

(If you believe federal vaccine mandates were a necessary public health tool)

5-Minute Actions:

  • Call Your Rep/Senators: Capitol Switchboard: (202) 224-3121. "I'm a constituent from [Your City/Town] and I am calling to express my opposition to Executive Order 14174. I believe revoking the vaccine requirements for federal workers and contractors undermines public health and workplace safety."

30-Minute Deep Dive:

  • Write a Letter to the Editor: Submit a letter to your local newspaper arguing that vaccine requirements are a proven public health tool and that this decision is a step backward.
  • Join an Organization: Support public health organizations or unions that previously advocated for the protective measures in the workplace.