Administration Releases Information on Testing

Guidance released today emphasizes that federal agencies will cover the cost of COVID testing for those employees who are unvaccinated or decline to provide their vaccination information. Testing will be completed on duty time, including travel time if necessary.

The testing protocol requires testing at least weekly and is part of the administration’s policy on vaccinations and testing for the federal workforce and federal contractors.

No employees are required to be vaccinated under the policies as laid out by the COVID-19 Safer Federal Workforce Task Force. Employees who are fully vaccinated will not be tested, and the testing requirements do not apply to employees who are not reporting to their worksite (e.g., are on maximum telework or working remotely).

With this guidance now released, agencies must still develop their testing programs. There is no deadline for agencies to have these testing programs in place. NTEU will continue to engage agencies on their intended processes and timetables, as well as raise other concerns to ensure employees’ rights are protected.

Today’s guidance includes additional details about the types of tests agencies may use and that employees who refuse to be tested may face disciplinary actions.

As NTEU works through the timing and implementation of the new policy, we will share additional information.