United States President, Donald Trump, issued an executive order on Friday barring schools and colleges that enforce COVID-19 vaccine mandates from receiving federal funding, despite no states currently having such mandates in place.
The order specifically targets COVID-19 vaccines, while other immunizations, such as those for measles, mumps, polio, tetanus, and whooping cough, continue to be required in all states, with certain exemptions.
According to a White House fact sheet, vaccine mandates for COVID-19 are “threatening educational opportunities.”
The directive instructs the Departments of Education and Health and Human Services to devise a strategy to eliminate “coercive” vaccine mandates and assess compliance among schools.
The measure extends to education service agencies, as well as state and local education agencies.
During his 2024 campaign, Trump vowed, “I would not give one penny to any school that has a vaccine mandate or a mask mandate.”
As part of his administration’s policy shift, Trump appointed Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a well-known vaccine skeptic, to head the Health and Human Services Department.
Kennedy’s nomination was confirmed by the Senate this week, despite widespread debate over his controversial stance on vaccinations.
