Attorney Generalย Ken Paxton, on behalf of the state, sued the Biden administration on Friday over its coronavirus vaccine mandate for federal contractors.

The federal requirement, which is set to take effect Dec. 8, calls on all federal workers and contractors to be vaccinated against COVID-19. The Texasย lawsuitย comes after similar suits filed by Florida and Georgia, along with several other states.

โ€œThe Biden Administration has repeatedly expressed its disdain for Americans who choose not to get a vaccine, and it has committed repeated and abusive federal overreach to force upon Americans something they do not want,โ€ Paxton said in a statement. โ€œThe federal government does not have the ability to strip individuals of their choice to get a vaccine or not. If the President thinks his patience is wearing thin, he is clearly underestimating the lack of patience from Texans whose rights he is infringing.โ€

Paxton and fellow Republican Gov.ย Greg Abbottย have been at war with local and federal officials over vaccinate mandates. Earlier this month, Abbott expanded an executive order to block the requirement for any entity in Texas, including health care facilities and private businesses. He previously banned cities, counties, school districts and state agencies from requiring vaccines. Lt. Gov.ย Dan Patrickย hasย tweetedย that vaccination โ€œshould never be forced on anyone by the state or a private employer.โ€

The lawsuit alleges the Biden administration acted unconstitutionally in drafting the vaccine mandate policy. It also argues that the administration required congressional approval to enforce it.

In September, Biden issued a federal order mandating that all federal contractors be vaccinated โ€” a move that includes major airlines, some of which are headquartered in Texas. At the same time, Biden required that private businesses with 100 or more employees either mandate vaccines or provide weekly coronavirus testing.

This article was written byย JAMES POLLARDย  of The Texas Tribune.ย  The Texas Tribune is a nonpartisan, nonprofit media organization that informs Texans โ€” and engages with them โ€“ about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.ย  This article originally appeared at: https://www.texastribune.org/2021/10/29/texas-covid-19-vaccine-mandates-lawsuit/