OSHA vaccine mandate for larger businesses temporarily halted by federal appeals court - USA TODAY

NEW ORLEANS - A federal appeals court on Saturday temporarily halted the Biden administration's vaccine requirement for businesses with 100 or more workers.

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals granted an emergency stay of the requirement by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration that those workers be vaccinated by Jan. 4 or face mask requirements and weekly coronavirus tests.

Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry said the action stops President Joe Biden "from moving forward with his unlawful overreach.”

"The president will not impose medical procedures on the American people without the checks and balances afforded by the Constitution,” Landry said in a statement.

COVID-19 updates: 11 states sue over Biden vaccine mandate

At least 27 states filed lawsuits challenging the rule in several circuits, some of which were made more conservative by the judicial appointments of Republican President Donald Trump.

The Biden administration encourages widespread vaccinations as the quickest way to end the pandemic that has claimed more than 750,000 lives in the USA.