President Donald Trump recently signed an executive order aimed at preventing federal funds from going to K-12 schools and universities that require COVID-19 vaccinations. The order, signed in the Oval Office, tasks the Departments of Education and Health and Human Services with developing guidelines to comply with the order and putting an end to what Trump termed as “coercive COVID-19 vaccine mandates.” Despite the signing, the order is expected to have minimal impact since no states currently mandate COVID-19 vaccinations for K-12 public school students, and 21 states have passed laws prohibiting vaccine mandates.

According to data, only 15 colleges, all private institutions, still require COVID-19 vaccinations. This move comes in the wake of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a prominent vaccination skeptic, being confirmed by the Senate and sworn in as the top health official. Trump’s decision follows a trend among his supporters who have rallied against COVID-19 mandates, particularly after President Joe Biden’s initiatives in 2021 to enforce vaccine requirements for large businesses and the federal workforce.

The order signing ceremony was attended by vocal vaccination critic Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who hailed the move as a significant victory for health freedom in the country. This development reflects the ongoing debate surrounding COVID-19 vaccination requirements and highlights the divergent views and policies regarding vaccine mandates in educational and institutional settings.