Donald Trump, Republicans Rejoice as Supreme Court Knocks Down Biden Vaccine Mandate

The Supreme Court on Thursday struck down the Biden administration's vaccine-or-test mandate for large private companies.

Under the proposed rule, which was to be carried out by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), companies with more than 100 employees would have been forced to implement a mandate requiring employees to get vaccinated or submit a negative COVID test each week to enter the workplace.

This ruling came three days after the order went into effect and was decided among partisan lines as the court's six conservative appointees objecting to the mandate and the three liberal appointees supporting it.

"Although Congress has indisputably given OSHA the power to regulate occupational dangers, it has not given that agency the power to regulate public health more broadly," the court wrote in an unsigned opinion.

The measure was widely criticized by Republican lawmakers from its onset, and upon news of the ruling, a number of the nation's most prominent critics of the measure took to Twitter and offered formal statements celebrating the decision, including former President Donald Trump.

"The Supreme Court has spoken, confirming what we all knew: Biden's disastrous mandates are unconstitutional," Trump wrote in a statement. "Biden promised to shut down the virus, not the economy but he has failed miserably on both—and mandates would have further destroyed the economy. We are proud of the Supreme Court for not backing down. No mandates!"

"At least some sanity has been returned by SCOTUS blocking OSHA's vaccine mandate," Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin wrote. "Maybe Biden admin will reconsider their harmful and pointless healthcare mandate in light of increasing breakthrough cases and severe worker shortages."

Others chimed in, as well. Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri wrote "#SCOTUS decision in vaccine mandate case is a big victory for liberty, the rule of law, and the Constitution," and Senator Ted Cruz of Texas tweeted, "BOOM. Major victory for the rule of law."

Arizona's Republican Governor Doug Ducey issued a formal statement, saying, in part: "Today's Supreme Court decision is a win for hardworking employees, and will ensure they don't needlessly lose their jobs due to the heavy hand of government."

While the decisions regarding the mandate has garnered the most attention in the court's recent ruling, the Democrats' loss was softened by a 5-4 ruling that the allowed similar requirements to remain in effect for medical facilities the receive Medicare or Medicaid payments.

Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh sided with their liberal peers on this ruling, saying that it fell within the purview of the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

"We agree with the Government that the [Health and Human Services] Secretary's rule falls within the authorities that Congress has conferred upon him," the majority wrote. "After all, ensuring that providers take steps to avoid transmitting a dangerous virus to their patients is consistent with the fundamental principle of the medical profession: first, do no harm."

Update 01/13/22, 4:09 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information and reaction from Donald Trump.