Trump Calls for Withholding Federal Money from Schools and Colleges that Require COVID Vaccines
A White House Order Signs Off on Plan to End Vaccine Mandates
President Donald Trump has signed an order directing the Education Department and Health and Human Services to create a plan to end vaccine mandates for COVID-19, which could result in schools and colleges that require students to be immunized against the virus losing federal money.
The Order’s Impact
The order is expected to have little national impact, as COVID-19 vaccine mandates have mostly been dropped at schools and colleges across the United States, and many states have passed legislation prohibiting such mandates. The order does not specify what money would be used as leverage, as most federal education funding is determined by Congress.
Trump’s Campaign Promise
The order aims to fulfill a campaign promise from Trump, who often stated that he would “not give one penny to any school that has a vaccine mandate.” This move is seen as a fulfillment of that promise.
Existing Vaccine Mandates
All 50 U.S. states have laws requiring children attending schools to be vaccinated against certain diseases, including measles, mumps, polio, tetanus, whooping cough, and chickenpox. Additionally, all states allow exemptions for children with medical conditions that prevent them from receiving certain vaccines, and most also allow exemptions for religious or other non-medical reasons.
College Vaccine Mandates
Some colleges started requiring students to be immunized against COVID-19 during the pandemic, but most have since dropped these requirements. A few colleges still require vaccines, at least for students living on campus, such as Swarthmore and Oberlin colleges. Most of these colleges allow medical or religious exemptions.
Statewide Student Vaccine Mandates
Statewide student vaccine mandates were rare, with only a few exceptions. California had planned to add COVID-19 to the list of required vaccines for K-12 students, but the plan was dropped. Illinois had a requirement for college students, but it was lifted after about a year.
Conclusion
The White House order aims to end vaccine mandates for COVID-19, which could result in schools and colleges that require students to be immunized against the virus losing federal money. While the order may have little national impact, it is a move that fulfills a campaign promise from President Trump.
FAQs
* What is the purpose of the White House order?
The order directs the Education Department and Health and Human Services to create a plan to end vaccine mandates for COVID-19.
* What is the impact of the order?
The order is expected to have little national impact, as COVID-19 vaccine mandates have mostly been dropped at schools and colleges across the United States.
* What is the significance of this move for President Trump?
The order aims to fulfill a campaign promise from Trump, who often stated that he would “not give one penny to any school that has a vaccine mandate.”
