Trump Signs Executive Order Banning Federal Funds for Schools with COVID Vaccine Mandates
President Trump signed an executive order on February 14, 2025, barring federal funding to schools with COVID vaccine mandates for students.
The order should have little national impact as most schools have dropped such mandates, and it isn’t clear what money is at risk.
WATCH: Trump signs orders targeting COVID vaccine mandates and creating 'energy dominance' council
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Trump has demonstrated a shifting stance on COVID-19 vaccines as he and his allies have been quick to claim credit for the work of Operation Warp Speed under his first administration while at the same time decrying pro-vaccine rhetoric.
Trump bars federal funding for schools with COVID-19 mandates
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Trump's order bars federal funding 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.
Trump executive order would defund schools that require Covid vaccines
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The order applies to students and not to teachers or staff.
Trump bars federal funding to schools with COVID vaccine mandates
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Trump’s proposal sparked concerns at the time about funding for schools in states that require most students to be immunized from diseases like measles and polio.
Trump orders end to federal funding for schools that require Covid vaccines
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However, the order will likely have a minimal impact.
Trump orders defunding of schools, universities that mandate COVID vaccines
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The executive order prevents 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.
Trump's Latest Executive Order Punishes Schools Mandating the COVID Shot
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The directive only applies to the COVID-19 vaccine.
Trump bars federal funding for schools with COVID vaccine mandates
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The order is expected to have little national impact because COVID-19 vaccine mandates have mostly been dropped at schools and colleges across the United States, and many states have passed legislation forbidding such mandates.
Trump calls for withholding federal money from schools and colleges that require COVID vaccines
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Mr. Trump’s executive order is largely forward-looking and geared toward satisfying Mr. Trump’s base.
Trump signs executive order targeting COVID-19 vaccine mandates
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Trump calls for withholding federal money from schools and colleges that require COVID vaccines
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Trump campaigned against COVID-19 vaccine mandates during the 2024 election, saying at a rally in Richmond, Virginia, that he would “not give one penny to any school that has a vaccine mandate or a mask mandate.”
Trump Signs Order Barring Federal Funding to Schools With COVID Vaccine Mandates
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The vaccine executive order, meanwhile, comes roughly five years after the novel coronavirus arrived in the US, killing more than 1 million Americans and unleashing massive economic, social and educational upheaval.
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It's not clear how many schools will be affected by the vaccine order.
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The president and his administration have already taken action to roll back coronavirus vaccine requirements at the federal level.
Exclusive: Trump Expected to Halt Federal Funding to Schools with COVID Vaccine Mandates
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The series of education-based orders are part of President Trump’s mission to eradicate far-left progressive ideologies from permeating within schools and universities.
One America News Network·1M·Mixed ReliableThis source has a mixed track record—sometimes accurate but also prone to bias, sensationalism, or incomplete reporting.RightThis outlet favors right-wing views.The White House said in a statement Friday that the mandates pressure students into deciding on the shots based on government coercion rather than on parents' informed choices.
Trump to Sign Order Ending School COVID-19 Shot Mandates
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The order comes after Trump signed an executive order last month that reinstates service members with back-pay who were discharged when they refused to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
Trump to pull federal funding for schools with COVID-19 vaccine mandate
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Summary
On February 14, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order prohibiting federal funding to schools mandating COVID-19 vaccinations for students, a largely symbolic action as no states currently enforce such requirements. The order, which does not affect teachers or staff, aims to protect student educational opportunities amid controversial mandates. The president highlighted that parents face difficult choices between compliance and their children’s education. The directive assigns Education Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to create a compliance plan and raises concerns about potentially extending restrictions to other vaccinations. The move aligns with Trump’s campaign promise to oppose all vaccine mandates.
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