Trump Order Threatens Federal Funding for COVID Vaccine Mandates at Schools

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President Donald Trump signed an executive order that could deny federal funding to schools, colleges, and states enforcing COVID-19 vaccine mandates. The measure aims to fulfill Trump's campaign promises and follows a trend of diminishing vaccine requirements across educational institutions, according to officials.

The order requires the Education Department and Health and Human Services to devise a plan to eliminate these mandates, though specifics regarding funding cuts remain unclear. Most federal education funding is determined by Congress, which may limit the order’s impact. While some colleges have maintained vaccine requirements, many—such as Swarthmore and Oberlin—allow exemptions for medical or religious reasons.

Previously, California considered adding the COVID-19 vaccine to its list of required vaccines for K-12 students, but this proposal was dropped. Nationally, the urgency for COVID vaccine mandates in educational settings has significantly decreased since the height of the pandemic.

As schools continue to adapt policies to post-pandemic circumstances, the full implications of Trump's order could further complicate federal funding and public health initiatives.

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