Trump halts federal funds for schools mandating Covid vax

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order blocking federal funding from colleges and universities that still mandate the COVID-19 vaccine in 2025. The order is one among many that Trump signed as he has moved fast to fulfill campaign promises in the first few weeks of his second term.

According to Fox News, the order prohibits "federal funds from being used to support or subsidize an educational service agency, state education agency, local education agency, elementary school, secondary school, or institution of higher education that requires students to have received a COVID-19 vaccination to attend in-person education programs."

The order also tasks Robert F. Kennedy Jr, who was recently appointed to the head the Department of Health and Human Services, as well as the Secretary of Education (who has not yet been confirmed) to "provide a plan to end coercive COVID-19 vaccine mandates" and make guidelines for schools surrounding the medication.

Friday's order is not the only one that Trump has signed that has hit back at COVID-19 vaccine mandates. In late January, Trump signed an order that reinstates all those military personnel who were fired from service under former President Joe Biden for not taking the vaccine. Trump called the mandate against the military members and "unfair, overbroad, and [a] completely unnecessary burden."

Trump’s order mandated that the military "make reinstatement available to all members of the military (active and reserve) who were discharged solely for refusal to receive the COVID-19 vaccine and who request to be reinstated." Those reinstated also got full backpay. It is not clear how many schools will be impacted by the order. As of last spring, no state required students to have the COVID-19 vaccine.