WH: ‘Politics’ is why Gov. Abbott is challenging vaccine mandates

On Tuesday, White House press secretary Jen Psaki was asked why she thinks Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is banning federal vaccine mandates, to which she replied that he is putting politics over the health of the people he is governing.

Video transcript

- Is the administration going to sue Texas over the opposing the order for the vaccine mandates? And is there a risk that kind of the OSHA efforts essentially get tied up in litigation rather than having the immediate effect?

JEN PSAKI: Well Josh, these requirements are promulgated by federal law. So when the president announced his vaccine mandates for businesses, that of course, we're waiting on OSHA regulations for as the next step, that was pursuant to federal law and the implementation of federal law because it's an executive order.

So our intention is to implement and continue to work to implement these requirements across the country, including in the states where there are attempts to oppose them.

- Clearly, Governor Abbott knows that federal rules supersede state rules. So why do you think he did this?

JEN PSAKI: Politics.

- Can you elaborate?

JEN PSAKI: Well I think it's pretty clear when you make a choice that's against all public health information and data out there that it's not based on what is in the interest of the people you are governing. It's perhaps in the interest of your own politics.