Politics
JUST IN: Trump Signs Order Blocking Federal Funds For Schools Mandating Jab
President Donald Trump on Friday signed an executive order barring federal funding for schools and universities that require students to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, fulfilling a campaign promise to end what he called “coercive” vaccine mandates in education.
The order, which applies solely to COVID-19 vaccinations, directs the Departments of Education and Health and Human Services to implement guidelines preventing federal funds from reaching institutions that impose such mandates. It also requires both agencies to compile a report on compliance and enforcement measures.
In a fact sheet provided by the White House, officials framed the decision as a matter of protecting students’ access to education.
“Parents are being forced into a difficult position: comply with a controversial mandate or risk their child’s educational future,” the statement reads. “President Trump is committed to protecting personal freedoms and ensuring that Americans’ education isn’t conditioned on unnecessary government mandates.”
“[He] is dedicated to ensuring that American students are not forced to choose between their education and their medical freedom … fulfilling his campaign promise: ‘I will not allow schools to impose COVID vaccine mandates.’”
The White House also stated that COVID-19 vaccine mandates are “threatening educational opportunities,” according to CBS News. The initiative aligns with a pledge made by Trump during his campaign, where he frequently said that he would “not give one penny to any school that has a vaccine mandate.”
“That solves that problem,” Trump said at the Oval Office Friday.
BREAKING
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) February 14, 2025
The order applies to K-12 schools, higher education institutions, and state and local education agencies that receive federal funding. However, it does not extend to faculty or staff, meaning schools could still impose vaccine requirements on employees without jeopardizing federal aid.
All states still mandate that students receive vaccinations for diseases such as measles, mumps, polio, tetanus, and whooping cough, although some exemptions are allowed. While the move signals a hardline stance against vaccine requirements, its practical impact may be limited.
No state currently mandates COVID-19 vaccinations for school attendance, as many states and school districts abandoned early proposals following significant public opposition. However, the order still represents a push by Trump to reverse pandemic-era policies and reinforce parental rights in education.
Some states, such as California, had initially considered requiring COVID-19 vaccination for students, but those plans were abandoned after backlash from parents and policymakers. Trump had consistently criticized the Biden administration’s handling of the pandemic, including vaccine mandates for federal employees and military personnel, which he described as unconstitutional.
The president’s Health and Human Services secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has also been one of the most vocal critics of COVID-19 vaccine mandates, frequently arguing that such policies infringe on personal freedoms and bodily autonomy. In May 2021, Kennedy petitioned the FDA to revoke the authorization of all COVID-19 vaccines and to halt future approvals, advocating instead for the use of ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine—treatments proven ineffective against COVID-19.
