Biden orders tough new vaccination rules for federal workers WASHINGTON (AP) â President Joe Biden on Thursday announced sweeping new pandemic requirements aimed at boosting vaccination rates for millions of federal workers and contractors as he lamented the âAmerican tragedyâ of rising-yet-preventable deaths among the unvaccinated. Federal workers will be required to sign forms attesting theyâve been vaccinated against the coronavirus or else comply with new rules on mandatory masking, weekly testing, distancing and more. The strict new guidelines are aimed at increasing sluggish vaccination rates among the huge number of Americans who draw federal paychecks â and to set an example for private employers around the country.