In a January 25 statement, OSHA announced the withdrawal of the vaccination and testing emergency temporary standard, which it issued on November 5, 2021. In its statement, it pitched the mandate as a means to "protect unvaccinated employees of large employers with 100 or more employees from workplace exposure to coronavirus."

"The withdrawal is effective January 26, 2022," OSHA announced, although it clarified it is not withdrawing the ETS as a "proposed rule."

"Although OSHA is withdrawing the vaccination and testing ETS as an enforceable emergency temporary standard, the agency is not withdrawing the ETS as a proposed rule. The agency is prioritizing its resources to focus on finalizing a permanent COVID-19 Healthcare Standard," the agency said, emphasizing that it "strongly encourages vaccination of workers against the continuing dangers posed by COVID-19 in the workplace."

President Joe Biden originally pitched the rule in a divisive September speech on the Chinese coronavirus in which he scolded unvaccinated Americans, warning that patience was "wearing thin."

"We've been patient, but our patience is wearing thin. And your refusal has cost all of us. So, please, do the right thing," Biden said in the inflammatory speech, attempting to coerce unvaccinated Americans into following his edicts.

"But just don't take it from me; listen to the voices of unvaccinated Americans who are lying in hospital beds, taking their final breaths, saying, 'If only I had gotten vaccinated. If only,'" he said, ultimately pitching the rule to "protect vaccinated workers from unvaccinated co-workers."