Previously, Oct. 18, 2021, was established for current employees to submit a reasonable accommodation request for a religious or medical exception to the COVID-19 vaccination mandate, but this is not an absolute deadline. Requests continue to be accepted and processed as they are received.  

Forms were initially required to submit an RA request by email, but it is known some employees are having difficulties with the forms. Employees can submit their RA request without the forms, but it is in the employee’s best interest to provide sufficient information to support the request. Without necessary information, management may not be able to conclude if an employee is entitled to a legal exception and accommodation. Employees who do not have access to email can verbally inform their supervisor of their RA request and the supervisor can submit the RA request on the employee’s behalf.  

The HRM Reasonable Accommodations website has been updated to provide specific direction about how to submit a request for a religious or medical exception.  

NOTE: The new contact for religious exception requests is Katherine Mindlin and new requests can be emailed to katherine.mindlin@usda.gov. 

New requests for a medical exception can be submitted to the contacts identified on the HRM Reasonable Accommodations website.  

What happens after a Reasonable Accommodation request is submitted? 

• An RA specialist will contact an employee within two weeks of their RA request being submitted to confirm receipt and to provide guidance throughout the RA process.
• Employees will be asked to provide any missing information to support their request, to include medical documentation that addresses the employee’s specific circumstance.
• Supervisors may be contacted to provide essential functions of the position.
• Supervisors do not have authority to approve or deny any RA requests that have not been processed by the HRM RA staff.
• Final decisions on all RA requests will be issued in writing from a cadre of designated management officials. 
• The pandemic has created extenuating circumstances and, therefore, delays in processing RA requests will occur despite our best efforts to process these requests.
• Disciplinary actions will not be initiated while employees are waiting for a decision on their RA request.

For more information, please visit:

• HRM Reasonable Accommodations website 
• Safer Federal Workforce provides answers to many frequently asked questions about the vaccine mandate and enforcement process.
• Working during a pandemic
• EEOC: What you should know about COVID-19 and the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and other EEO laws
• U.S. Department of Labor—Occupational Safety and Health Administration
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Help is available
Open an HR Help case:

• Call: 1-877-372-7248, Press 2
• Email: hrm_contact_center@usda.gov
• Self-Service: ConnectHR, then click HR Help
• For detailed instructions, visit the HR Help How-to Add a Case Guide.