A_AT0 federal_AJ0 judge_NN1 on_PRP Tuesday_NP0 blocked_VVD President_NP0 Joe_NP0 Biden_NP0 's_POS administration_NN1 from_PRP enforcing_VVG a_AT0 COVID-19_AJ0 vaccine_NN1 mandate_NN1 for_PRP employees_NN2 of_PRF federal_AJ0 contractors_NN2 ,_PUN the_AT0 latest_AJS in_PRP a_AT0 string_NN1 of_PRF victories_NN2 for_PRP Republican-led_AJ0 states_NN2 pushing_VVG back_AVP against_PRP Biden_NP0 's_POS pandemic_AJ0 policies_NN2 ._SENT U.S._NP0 District_NP0 Court_NN1 Judge_NP0 R_NP0 ._SENT Stan_NP0 Baker_NP0 ,_PUN in_PRP Augusta_NP0 ,_PUN Georgia_NP0 ,_PUN issued_VVD a_AT0 stay_NN1 to_TO0 bar_VVI enforcement_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 mandate_NN1 nationwide_AV0 ._SENT The_AT0 order_NN1 came_VVD in_PRP response_NN1 to_PRP a_AT0 lawsuit_NN1 from_PRP several_DT0 contractors_NN2 and_CJC seven_CRD states_NN2 --_NN1 Alabama_NP0 ,_PUN Georgia_NP0 ,_PUN Idaho_NP0 ,_PUN Kansas_NP0 ,_PUN South_NP0 Carolina_NP0 ,_PUN Utah_NP0 and_CJC West_NP0 Virginia_NP0 ._SENT It_PNP applies_VVZ across_PRP the_AT0 U.S._NP0 because_CJS one_CRD of_PRF those_DT0 challenging_VVG the_AT0 order_NN1 is_VBZ the_AT0 trade_NN1 group_NN1 Associated_AJ0 Builders_NN2 and_CJC Contractors_NN2 Inc._AJ0 ,_PUN whose_DTQ members_NN2 do_VDB business_NN1 nationwide_AV0 ._SENT Baker_NP0 found_VVD that_CJT the_AT0 states_NN2 are_VBB likely_AJ0 to_TO0 succeed_VVI in_PRP their_DPS claim_NN1 that_CJT Biden_NP0 exceeded_VVD authorization_NN1 from_PRP Congress_NN1 when_CJS he_PNP issued_VVD the_AT0 requirement_NN1 in_PRP September_NP0 ._SENT "_PUQ The_AT0 Court_NN1 acknowledges_VVZ the_AT0 tragic_AJ0 toll_NN1 that_CJT the_AT0 COVID-19_NN1 pandemic_AJ0 has_VHZ wrought_VVN throughout_PRP the_AT0 nation_NN1 and_CJC the_AT0 globe_NN1 ,_PUN "_PUQ wrote_VVD the_AT0 judge_NN1 ,_PUN an_AT0 appointee_NN1 of_PRF former_DT0 President_NN1 Donald_NP0 Trump_NP0 ._SENT "_PUQ However_AV0 ,_PUN even_AV0 in_PRP times_NN2 of_PRF crisis_NN1 this_DT0 Court_NN1 must_VM0 preserve_VVI the_AT0 rule_NN1 of_PRF law_NN1 and_CJC ensure_VVB that_CJT all_DT0 branches_NN2 of_PRF government_NN1 act_NN1 within_PRP the_AT0 bounds_NN2 of_PRF their_DPS constitutionally_AV0 granted_VVN authorities_NN2 ._SENT "_PUQ A_AT0 White_AJ0 House_NN1 spokeswoman_NN1 said_VVD the_AT0 Justice_NN1 Department_NN1 would_VM0 continue_VVI to_TO0 defend_VVI the_AT0 mandate_NN1 ._SENT "_PUQ The_AT0 reason_NN1 that_CJT we_PNP proposed_VVD these_DT0 requirements_NN2 is_VBZ that_CJT we_PNP know_VVB they_PNP work_VVI ,_PUN and_CJC we_PNP are_VBB confident_AJ0 in_PRP our_DPS ability_NN1 ,_PUN legally_AV0 ,_PUN to_TO0 make_VVI these_DT0 happen_VVI across_PRP the_AT0 country_NN1 ,_PUN "_PUQ White_NP0 House_NN1 press_NN1 secretary_NN1 Jen_NP0 Psaki_NP0 said_VVD at_PRP Tuesday_NP0 's_POS briefing_NN1 ._SENT A_AT0 federal_AJ0 judge_NN1 in_PRP Kentucky_NP0 also_AV0 had_VHD issued_VVN a_AT0 preliminary_AJ0 injunction_NN1 against_PRP the_AT0 mandate_NN1 last_ORD week_NN1 ,_PUN but_CJC it_PNP applied_VVD only_AV0 to_PRP contractors_NN2 in_PRP three_CRD states_NN2 that_CJT had_VHD sued_VVN together_AV0 --_NN1 Kentucky_NP0 ,_PUN Ohio_NP0 and_CJC Tennessee_NP0 ._SENT Biden_NP0 issued_VVD an_AT0 executive_AJ0 order_NN1 Sept._NP0 9_CRD requiring_VVG federal_AJ0 contractors_NN2 and_CJC subcontractors_NN2 to_TO0 comply_VVI with_PRP workplace_NN1 safety_NN1 guidelines_NN2 developed_VVN by_PRP a_AT0 federal_AJ0 task_NN1 force_NN1 ._SENT That_DT0 task_NN1 force_NN1 subsequently_AV0 issued_VVN guidelines_NN2 that_DT0 new_AJ0 ,_PUN renewed_AJ0 or_CJC extended_AJ0 contracts_NN2 include_VVB a_AT0 clause_NN1 requiring_VVG employees_NN2 to_TO0 be_VBI fully_AV0 vaccinated_VVN by_PRP Jan._NP0 18._CRD That_CJT meant_VVD those_DT0 receiving_VVG a_AT0 two-dose_AJ0 vaccine_NN1 must_VM0 get_VVI their_DPS second_ORD shot_NN1 by_PRP Jan._NP0 4._CRD Limited_AJ0 exceptions_NN2 were_VBD allowed_VVN for_PRP medical_AJ0 or_CJC religions_NN2 reasons_NN2 ._SENT The_AT0 requirements_NN2 would_VM0 apply_VVI to_PRP millions_CRD of_PRF employees_NN2 of_PRF federal_AJ0 contractors_NN2 ,_PUN which_DTQ include_VVB defense_NN1 companies_NN2 and_CJC airlines_NN2 ._SENT "_PUQ This_DT0 is_VBZ a_AT0 big_AJ0 win_NN1 in_PRP removing_VVG compliance_NN1 hurdles_NN2 for_PRP the_AT0 construction_NN1 industry_NN1 ,_PUN which_DTQ is_VBZ facing_VVG economic_AJ0 challenges_NN2 ,_PUN such_DT0 as_PRP a_AT0 workforce_NN1 shortage_NN1 of_PRF 430_CRD ,_PUN 000_CRD ,_PUN rising_VVG materials_NN2 prices_NN2 and_CJC supply_NN1 chain_NN1 issues_NN2 ,_PUN "_PUQ Ben_NP0 Brubeck_NP0 ,_PUN a_AT0 vice_AJ0 president_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 construction_NN1 industry_NN1 group_NN1 said_VVD in_PRP a_AT0 statement_NN1 ._SENT 
