U.S. Navy shipyard backs off vaccine requirement after employees draw a line in the sand

A major Virginia ship builder that makes vessels for the U.S. Navy is no longer requiring employees to be vaccinated against the coronavirus.

The 25,000 employees at Newport News Shipbuilding had initially been told they had to be vaccinated against the coronavirus, according to WRIC-TV.

But that all changed last week, after Mike Petters, CEO of Huntington Ingalls Industries, told workers that the Jan. 4 deadline it imposed has been suspended, according to WTKR-TV.

BREAKING REPORT: Biden Administration in FULL RETREAT— Federal Vaccine Mandate NOW *SUSPENDED* Due to ‘Onslaught of Legal Challenges’…

— Chuck Callesto (@ChuckCallesto) November 17, 2021

Earlier this month, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued an emergency rule that codified President Joe Biden’s plan to require all employers with 100 or more workers to have a vaccinate mandate in place. A coalition of states and private sector individuals sued. A federal court banned the rule from taking effect, and OSHA then suspended action under the rule. – READ MORE