Trump executive order blocks funding to schools with COVID-19 vaccine mandates
By isabelle // 2025-02-17
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  • Trump signs executive order blocking federal funds for schools that have COVID-19 vaccine mandates in place.
  • The order aims to protect personal freedom and informed consent in healthcare.
  • No College Mandates and Children’s Health Defense commend the move as a significant step.
  • Trump also signed an order to reinstate military members who were discharged for vaccine refusal, including back pay.
  • Actions highlight a shift away from coercive medical decisions and toward individual rights.
President Trump has once again taken a strong stance in the ongoing debate over health freedom, signing an executive order that bars federal funds from being allocated to schools and universities that still impose COVID-19 vaccine mandates on students. The move, which Trump described as a solution to an "intolerable infringement on personal freedom," is a bold step that not only protects individual rights but also sends a clear message to pharmaceutical companies and educational institutions: the days of coerced medical decisions are numbered.

Trump’s commitment to health freedom

The executive order, signed on Friday, directs the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Education to develop guidelines and a compliance plan to ensure that federal funding is not used to support schools with such mandates. While the number of institutions still requiring COVID-19 vaccines is relatively small, the symbolic impact of Trump's action is significant. It reinforces the president's commitment to restoring informed consent and personal choice in healthcare, a principle that many conservatives and health advocates have championed. “Given the incredibly low risk of serious COVID-19 illness for children and young adults, threatening to shut them out of an education is an intolerable infringement on personal freedom,” the order states. This sentiment resonates with parents and students who have long objected to vaccine mandates, especially those implemented during the height of the pandemic. No College Mandates co-founder Lucia Sinatra applauded the move, which Trump promised to make during his campaign, stating: “I think this is another perfect example of promises made, promises kept. It is long overdue because college students are still subject to these mandates as a condition of enrollment.”

A promising precedent

Trump's executive order is not just a legal move; it's a moral one. By taking a firm stand against mandatory vaccinations, the president is setting a precedent that could have far-reaching implications. Mary Holland, CEO of Children’s Health Defense, praised the order, saying, “This is such welcome news! So many students have been forced out of their educational programs because of coercive COVID-19 vaccine mandates, and so many more have been injured or have died as a result of coercive medicine.”

Restoring military members’ rights

In addition to the educational directive, Trump has also signed an executive order to reinstate military members who were discharged for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine. This order, signed in late January, calls for the reinstatement of all service members, both active and reserve, who were discharged for vaccine refusal and who request to be reinstated. These individuals will be returned to their previous ranks and receive back pay, a move that corrects an unjust and overbroad policy implemented by the previous administration. By standing firm on the principles of health freedom and personal choice, Trump is not only protecting the rights of students and service members but also sending a clear message to the pharmaceutical industry and public health officials that the era of coercive medicine is over. As the nation continues to heal from the divisions of the past four years, this order represents a step in the right direction, one that prioritizes individual liberty and personal autonomy. Sources for this article include: FoxNews.com ChildrensHealthDefense.org APNews.com
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