Biden says vaccine mandate for federal workers is "under consideration"

Washington — President Biden said Tuesday he is considering a mandate for all federal employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19, as the administration struggles to combat the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant and increase the pace of vaccinations.

"It's under consideration right now, but if you're not vaccinated right now, you're not nearly as smart as I thought you were," the president said when asked about a possible mandate for federal workers following a speech at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence in Virginia. The prospect of a federal employee vaccine requirement comes after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that even vaccinated people wear masks indoors in regions with high community transmission. On Monday, the Department of Veterans Affairs became the first federal agency to require vaccines for thousands of its employees.