By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters] – The U.S. government warned it that it would suffer “significant damage” if an appeals Court fails to overturn an injunction preventing President Joe Biden’s COVID-19 vaccination mandate being enforced for federal workers. Additionally, testing employees who have not been vaccinated could result in a monthly cost of up to $22,000,000

White House Office of Management and Budget Director Jason Miller, disclosed late Monday in a statement cited by Justice Department that the government will be affected on many fronts if they cannot enforce vaccine requirements.

Miller stated in the Jan. 28, declaration that “while most federal civil employees have been fully vaccinated”, hundreds of thousands are still not.

He said that the government currently hires approximately 20,000 people monthly, and does not require their vaccinations.

A U.S. Judge in Texas decided that Biden couldn’t require federal workers to get vaccinated against COVID-19 on Jan. 21 and stopped the U.S. government disciplining those who didn’t comply.

Biden issued an order in September requiring that approximately 3.5 million employees get their vaccines by Nov. 22, barring any religious or medical accommodations – otherwise, they could face firing or discipline.

Miller stated that as of Jan. 21 approximately 2% federal civilian workers had “neither affirmed their full vaccination nor requested or received an exemption.”

U.S. COVID-19 requires federal employees who are not vaccinated to undergo regular testing. Miller stated that weekly testing could cost taxpayers anywhere from $11 million up to $22million each month or $33 million-$65 million every quarter.

Miller stated that tens and thousands of federal workers who are not vaccinated do not have any pending or accepted requests for exemption. He also said that a number of exception requests, including tens to thousands, remain pending.

The vaccine ruling was rejected by a U.S. court of appeals last week. On March 8, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals is expected to hear the case.

Miller stated that the ruling forces government agencies to review “reentry, post-reentry schedules and plans” in order to “set up expanded COVID-19 test programs at agencies.” He said that the Federal Government’s injunction will be ineffective in protecting the safety and health federal workers if it remains in effect.

The Justice Department referenced Ronald Reagan’s 1986 executive orders requiring federal employees to abstain using drugs while on duty and off duty. It argued that the president had “broad powers” to regulate federal civil servants.