WASHINGTON — A new directive issued by President Donald Trump could place federal funding at risk for schools, universities, and states that insist on student vaccination against COVID-19. Signed on Friday, this order might not have significant nationwide repercussions, as a considerable number of educational institutions have abandoned vaccine mandates and several states have enacted laws prohibiting such requirements.
The directive mandates that both the Education Department and Health and Human Services develop a strategy to abolish COVID-19 vaccine mandates. The agencies are tasked with pinpointing any discretionary federal funds or contracts allocated to schools that do not comply with this order, with a directive to remove funding “to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law.”
The rationale behind the order is underscored by the assertion that “the incredibly low risk of serious COVID-19 illness for children and young adults” makes it unacceptable to threaten their access to education over vaccine compliance. However, specific federal funding sources that may be jeopardized have not been detailed, as most federal education funding comes through Congressional mandates.
This initiative aligns with a frequent campaign pledge made by Trump, who voiced his commitment not to allocate any resources to educational institutions enforcing vaccine requirements.
It is worth noting that the order applies exclusively to COVID-19 vaccines. Currently, all states have existing laws that mandate vaccinations for various diseases including measles, mumps, polio, tetanus, whooping cough, and chickenpox. Additionally, states provide exemptions for children who have medical conditions that inhibit them from receiving certain vaccinations, along with allowances for religious or other nonmedical exceptions.
Throughout the pandemic, numerous colleges established COVID-19 vaccination requirements for incoming students, though most have since rescinded these policies. A handful of institutions, such as Swarthmore and Oberlin colleges, maintain vaccination needs, particularly for students residing on campus, while accommodating medical and religious exceptions.
Statewide mandates for student vaccinations against COVID-19 have been infrequent. For example, California had plans to include the COVID-19 vaccine in its K-12 requirements but ultimately chose not to pursue this. Illinois had a regulation for college students, but it was retracted after a year.
Democratic leaders, including Senator Patty Murray, who is a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, have criticized Trump’s directive as both unconscionable and unethical. Murray emphasized that vaccine mandates are not an unprecedented concept and highlighted the necessity for schools and states to set their vaccination policies based on consultations with public health authorities, without federal funding threatening student safety.
