Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) pressed Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Tuesday about the impact of President Biden’s vaccine mandate on federal workers.
He wondered what would happen if thousands of the 16,000 to 17,000 Border Patrol agents on the southern border were sidelined due to their vaccination status.
“It ties back to your willingness to give yourself an A for your efforts in dealing with employee issues,” Lee said. “But what happens when there are potentially thousands of these people, quite a large percentage, who may soon be ineligible to work because of their vaccination status? Does it harm or help operational border control?”
While touting the “huge increase” in the percentage of agents vaccinated, Mayorkas could only “hope it doesn’t materialize.”
“You have hope!” surprised, Lee shot back. “But do you have a plan to keep it up?”
He asked Mayorkas to prepare a written plan and submit it within the next two weeks, which Mayorkas assured.
In September, a whistleblower warned Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) that the border crisis would get much worse once the mandate went into effect.
?? #BEATING: Whistleblower claims Border Patrol agents have received official notice that they must be fully vaccinated by November 2021 or face dismissal. pic.twitter.com/5OytCtebe4
— House Judiciary GOP (@JudiciaryGOP) September 29, 2021
The Ohio Republican also pointed out how “ridiculous” this policy is, in which hard-working agents who don’t want to get vaccinated will lose their jobs, but “people who are breaking the law and coming here” have the opportunity to get vaccinated. “No big deal, your choice, it’s up to you.”
Mayorkas was he also asked about it during Tuesday’s hearing.
“The analysis for migrants encountered at the border is very different than for the federal workforce that leads by example,” he said.
Question: “We have a president who is implementing a national vaccine mandate… Why shouldn’t we mandate it [vaccines for illegal immigrants?]”
DHS Section Mayorkas: “The analysis for migrants encountered at the border is very different than for federal workers.” pic.twitter.com/Nz93ny58uS
— T. Grant Benson? (@GrantB911) November 16, 2021
