A legal settlement has led to the removal of federal employees’ Covid-19 vaccination records from personnel files, following a lengthy four-year dispute over a mandate introduced by former President Biden.
Feds for Freedom announced on Wednesday that an agreement was reached with the Department of Justice (DOJ), instructing the Department of Personnel Management to erase records related to the vaccine mandate, which includes information on vaccine status, any violations, and exemption requests. They are expected to handle this within the next 60 days. The settlement also restricts federal agencies from factoring in employees’ vaccination status when making decisions on hiring, firing, or promotions.
Stephanie Weidle, the executive director of Feds for Freedom, expressed that the most significant aspect for their members is the cleansing of their records. She stated, “This victory reinforces what we’ve been asserting all along. The community mandate was unconstitutional, immoral, and just not reflective of American values.”
Jim Erdman, co-founder of Feds for Freedom, highlighted that the settlement represents years of dedicated volunteer efforts and community financial backing.
The conflict traces back to December 2021, when Feds for Freedom, alongside around 9,000 federal employees, sought legal action against the government. By January 2022, they secured a nationwide injunction halting the enforcement of the mandate. Biden formally revoked the mandate in May 2023. The group collaborated with the law firm Boyden Gray PLLC for this legal endeavor.
In terms of the settlement, while the DOJ did not acknowledge any wrongdoing, Feds for Freedom views it as a significant acknowledgment of governmental overreach, possibly setting a precedent for future cases related to individual medical choices and religious freedoms. Weidle noted that employees could choose not to comply with the Covid vaccination record requirements for any reason.
The organization anticipates receiving a certificate of destruction to verify the deletion of records. Additionally, they plan to assist federal workers with filing requests under the Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act.
The government will also provide a financial settlement to help cover some of the group’s legal expenses, although some of the cases had been undertaken pro bono.
Weidle expressed ambivalence about the outcome, saying she was thankful but not entirely satisfied. She mentioned mixed signals from the Trump administration, referencing the speed of vaccine development back in 2020 and recent shifts away from mRNA platforms spearheaded by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
She commented on the surprising nature of the federal government’s approach, particularly given the resistance faced previously. Earlier this year, a report revealed that many external advisors suggested mandates for two-dose mRNA vaccines, despite the presence of innate immunity among certain individuals.
