By David Shepardson

(Reuters) – Two U.S. senators on Thursday claimed that the White House had pressured U.S. airlines into requiring their workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19 within a Dec. 8 deadline. If they fail, federal contractors could face dismissal.

Rep. Sam Graves (top Republican in the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee) and Garrett Graves (senior Republican on subcommittee on aviation), wrote to President Joe Biden Thursday, stating that it was unacceptable for your administration to use the threat of contractual steps as coercion, and target American workers in vital national industries.

They cited a Reuters article reporting that Jeff Zients, White House COVID-19 coordinator, had called Southwest Airlines (NYSE;), Delta Air Lines, and American Airlines on September 30, urging them follow United Airlines’ example of mandating vaccines for employees.

On Wednesday, Zients praised the airlines for mandating vaccinations. “Vaccination regulations work. He said that every day, new data confirms this fact.

Three airlines declined comment, as did the White House. Southwest declined to comment immediately.

American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Southwest Airlines announced since that they will comply with the federal contractor deadline on Dec. 8. Delta Chief Executive Ed Bastian claimed that there has been no decision.

President Joe Biden on Thursday https://www.reuters.com/world/us/biden-tout-vaccine-mandates-large-companies-chicago-trip-2021-10-07 was in Illinois to tout vaccines and praised United’s vaccine mandate after meeting with United CEO Scott Kirby (NYSE:).

In the letter, Congress noted that since March 2020, U.S. Airlines have received $54 billion from taxpayers to pay their payroll costs. This funding ended just last week.

We strongly encourage you to consider this poorly-conceived mandate that will lead to the dismissal of employees who were employed for the past 18 months at huge taxpayer expense,” the authors wrote.

“This unintended mandate and arbitrary deadline will only disrupt airline operations, increasing the possibility of cancellations.”

Biden last month signed an executive decree requiring federal contractors mandate vaccines for employees. The White House then set the Dec. 8 deadline.

Federal contractors are increasingly opting for compliance. IBM (NYSE: ) Announces Thursday that it will mandate vaccines for employees