Federal

Trump Cuts Federal Funding to Schools with Covid-19 Vaccine Mandates; USVI Unaffected

President Donald Trump signed an executive order today that prohibits federal funding for schools and universities requiring students to receive the COVID-19 vaccine for in-person attendance.  Mr. Trump has been a vocal critic of Covid-19 vaccine mandates, a position he reiterated during the announcement of the executive order. While specific comments from today’s signing were not detailed, Trump’s previous statements provide context for his stance. During his campaign, he declared, “I will not give one penny to any school that has a vaccine mandate,” a promise echoed in posts on X today celebrating the order as a fulfillment of his commitment to protect children from what he has called a “phony vaccine.” The executive order aligns with his broader efforts to roll back vaccine requirements, including reinstating military personnel discharged for refusing the vaccine. The debate over Covid-19 vaccine mandates emerged following the virus's arrival in the U.S. in early 2020, which led t...