The White House admitted it was considering withholding federal funding from certain industries that do not implement vaccine mandates for their employees.
The Washington Post reported this week that President Joe Biden might strip funding from nursing homes, cruise ships and public universities if they do not adopt vaccine mandates.
He might also restrict access to federal funds such as Medicare to force hospitals, long-term-care facilities, and other healthcare centers to require vaccines.
When asked if this report was true, a White House official did not deny that Biden was considering taking such an extreme step.
“As we always are, the administration is discussing a host of different measures we can continue to boost vaccinations across the country,” a White House official told Fox News.
“Any reported ideas under consideration are in early conversations and pre-decisional,” the official added. “There are no imminent policy decisions as to preview at this time.”
Biden recently rolled out a vaccine mandate for all federal workers and asked localities to use federal funds to pay $100 to everyone who gets vaccinated.
Under the new policy, federal workers will be required to sign forms attesting they’ve been vaccinated against the coronavirus or else comply with new rules: mandatory masking, weekly testing, distancing and more.
Paul Light, a New York University professor of public service, estimated there are nearly 7 million more employees who could potentially be included, combining those who work for companies that contract with the government and those working under federal grants.
When announcing the mandate, Biden insulted those who have yet to get the shots, claiming they will “get sick and fill up our hospitals” and would take beds away from others who need them.
“If, in fact, you are unvaccinated, you present a problem to yourself, to your family and those with whom you work,” he said.
