Gov. Gianforte Statement on Lawsuit Challenging Pres. Biden’s Vaccine Mandate for Montana Employers

Governor's Office
  • November 05 2021
${alt}

HELENA, Mont. – Governor Greg Gianforte today issued the following statement supporting a lawsuit filed by Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen, other state attorneys general, and employers seeking to block President Biden’s illegal vaccine mandate for private employers: 

“President Biden’s heavy-handed vaccine mandate is illegal in Montana, and I stand with Montana employers and Attorney General Knudsen as he joins other states to challenge the president’s unlawful overreach,” Gov. Gianforte said. “Not only does President Biden’s mandate violate Montana law banning vaccine-based discrimination, but also it will further strain Montana employers already facing a worker shortage. We will use all tools at our disposal to protect Montanans against this gross, unprecedented federal overreach.” 

The lawsuit challenges the federal vaccine mandate issued by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Pres. Biden’s Emergency Temporary Standard mandates employers, with 100 or more employees, require their workers to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. The Biden OSHA mandate will apply to 142,000 private-sector workers in Montana, according to the Montana Department of Labor and Industry.

Details on the lawsuit can be found here.

###

Site maintained by

State Information Technology Services Division
PO Box 200113
Helena, MT 59620-0113

Service Desk: (406) 444-2000

Fax: (406) 444-2701

TTY: (406) 444-1421

Contact Us
Montana State Seal logo

About Montana

Population
Population:1,084,197
Nickname
Nickname:Treasure State
State Capital
State Capital:Helena
State Flower
State Flower:Bitterroot
State Bird
State Bird:Western Meadowlark
State Butterfly
State Butterfly:Mourning Cloak
State Animal
State Animal:Grizzly Bear
State Fish
State Fish:Blackspotted Cutthroat Trout
State Gemstones
State Gemstones:Sapphire & Agate
State Soil
State Soil:Scobey Soil
State Motto
State Motto:Oro y Plata (Gold and Silver)
Visit Montana