Moving Beyond COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements for Federal Workers

This executive order revokes the federal COVID-19 vaccination requirements for federal employees (EO 14043) and federal contractors (EO 14042), effective May 12, 2023. Agencies must stop enforcing and rescind policies premised on those earlier orders.

Federal Register Open PDF 88 FR 30891

Impact dates

May 12, 2023
EO takes effect; vaccination requirements cease

Key directives

Revoke EO 14042 (federal contractor safety protocols)
Revoke EO 14043 (federal employee vaccination)
Agency policies premised on revoked EOs 'no longer may be enforced and shall be rescinded'
Effective 12:01 a.m. EDT May 12, 2023

Who is ordered

heads of executive departments and agencies · various

Timeline

Immediate

EO 14042 and EO 14043 revoked
Agency vaccination enforcement policies must cease

Near term (90d)

Agencies rescind implementing policies consistent with applicable law

Long term

Precedent for rolling back pandemic-era workforce mandates
Potential framework for future public health emergency responses

Risks & tensions

Legal uncertainty for pending litigation or adverse actions taken under revoked EOs; text does not address remediation for terminated employees or contract disputes
Vague phrase 'consistent with applicable law' in rescission requirement may slow agency compliance
No guidance on whether agencies may maintain vaccination requirements under independent statutory authority