President Joe Biden ramped up efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic Thursday, announcing broad vaccine mandates that impact federal workers, healthcare professionals, and staff at companies that employ 100 or more people. Two thirds of the American workforce are subject to the new rules, which allow for medical and religious exemptions. Workers can also opt to take weekly COVID-19 tests instead of receiving the jab.

The new federal policies – part of a six-part plan unveiled Thursday – mark an escalation in the White House’s drive to defeat vaccine hesitancy; attempts to persuade the unvaccinated have morphed into flat out coercion (NBC News writes that the White House has “moved from carrot to stick.”)

For many on the right, Biden’s new approach is government overreach. Medical decisions are a personal decision, the thinking goes, and lawmakers have no business dictating what Americans should put into their bodies. Proponents of this view tend to downplay the impact of COVID-19.

But other Americans, particularly those on the left, view Biden’s tougher tone as long overdue. More than 1,500 Americans are dying every day from the virus, which is straining hospitals, jeopardizing in-person schooling, and weakening the economy. Scientists are in broad consensus: the only way out of the pandemic is widespread vaccine adoption.

“What more is there to wait for? What more do you need to see? We’ve made vaccinations free, safe and convenient. the vaccine has FDA approval, over 200 million Americans have gotten at least one shot,” Biden said. “We’ve been patient, but our patience is wearing thin, and the refusal has cost all of us. So please do the right thing.”

Here’s a roundup of reactions to Biden’s new vaccine policies:

Republican Governors (from The Washington Post)

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott called the mandates “an assault on private businesses” and said the state is “already working to halt this power grab.” Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon said he asked his state’s attorney general “to stand prepared to take all actions to oppose this administration’s unconstitutional overreach of executive power,” and South Dakota Gov. Kristi L. Noem said, “See you in court.”

Republicans in Congress (from Forbes)

Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas) called the orders “insanity” and said they could lead to “full on revolt,” adding, “Honestly what the hell is wrong with Democrats? Leave people the hell alone.”

That was echoed by other conservatives in the House: Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.) accused Biden of “abusing the power of the executive branch,” and Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), the chair of the House GOP conference, called it an “authoritarian power grab.”

Business Roundtable (from NBC News):

Joshua Bolten, president and CEO of the Business Roundtable, a group of chief executives from companies including Amazon, Walmart and Home Depot, said in a statement Thursday: “Business Roundtable welcomes the Biden Administration’s continued vigilance in the fight against COVID. America’s business leaders know how critical vaccination and testing are in defeating the pandemic.”

American Federation of Government Employees (from Reuters)

“Since the vaccines first became widely available, we have strongly encouraged all our members to take one of the several safe, effective vaccines against COVID-19,” said American Federation of Government Employees National President Everett Kelley. “The data are clear. Getting vaccinated isn’t just the best way for us to end this pandemic, it is the best way for us to protect each other in the workplace.”

“Likewise, since President Biden made his first major announcement about changing COVID-19 protocols for the federal workforce in response to the surging Delta variant, we have said that changes like this should be negotiated with our bargaining units where appropriate. Put simply, workers deserve a voice in their working conditions. Neither of these positions has changed. We expect to bargain over this change prior to implementation, and we urge everyone who is able to get vaccinated as soon as they can do so.”

The American Federation of Teachers (from The Washington Post)

“We stand in complete support of this plan and of the administration’s effort to protect as many people as possible,” said AFT President Randi Weingarten.

The American Hospital Association (from The New York Times)

The American Hospital Association was cautious, warning that the moves “may result in exacerbating the severe work force shortage problems that currently exist.”

National Association of Manufacturers (from Reuters)

“We look forward to working with the administration to ensure any vaccine requirements are structured in a way that does not negatively impact the operations of manufacturers that have been leading through the pandemic to keep Americans safe. It is important that undue compliance costs do not burden manufacturers, large and small alike,” President and CEO Jay Timmons said in a statement.

“Getting all eligible Americans vaccinated will, first and foremost, reduce hospitalizations and save lives. But it is also an economic imperative in that our recovery and quality of life depend on our ability to end this pandemic.”

Amazon (from The New York Times)

“We know vaccines, coupled with widespread and convenient testing, serve as powerful tools to help slow the spread of Covid-19 in our communities, keeping the U.S. economy open, and protecting America’s work force,” said Brian Huseman, vice president of public policy for [Amazon].

National Federation of Independent Business (from The Washington Post)

In a statement, Vice President of Federal Government Relations Kevin Kuhlman said small businesses are already up against daily challenges from pandemic requirements, locating qualified workers, rising inflation and supply chain disruptions.

“Small business owners and their employees want to operate in a safe and healthy manner that allows them to stay open. Additional mandates, enforcement, and penalties will further threaten the fragile small business recovery,” Kuhlman said.

Consumer Brands Association (from Bloomberg)

“President Biden’s announcement prompts critical questions that require immediate clarification,” said the Consumer Brands Association, which represents makers of packaged goods. “As with other mandates, the devil is in the details. Without additional clarification for the business community, employee anxieties and questions will multiply.” 

General Motors (from The Associated Press)

“We are strongly encouraging our employees to get vaccinated given the broad availability of safe and highly efficacious vaccines, which data consistently show is the best way to protect yourself and those around you,” the automaker said.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce (from The Washington Post)

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which represents thousands of businesses affected by the measure, released a muted statement that did not flag immediate opposition to the mandates. Neil Bradley, executive vice president and chief policy officer at the Chamber of Commerce, said “the Chamber will carefully review the details of the executive orders and associated regulations.

Delta Airlines (from Reuters)

“While we await the details of the administration’s plan, Delta is proud to have developed a vaccination program that has already seen 78% of employees get vaccinated. Our employee vaccination numbers continue to grow following the announcement of our healthcare premium surcharge starting in November, and weekly testing starting next week, for those employees who choose to remain unvaccinated.”

CVS Health (from NBC News)

CVS Health said in a statement to NBC News that it applauds companies’ decisions to implement vaccination mandates, adding that “vaccinating more Americans is clearly the most effective way to prevail over the pandemic.”