Keeping Education Accessible and Ending COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates in Schools

[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 33 (Thursday, February 20, 2025)]

[Presidential Documents]

[Pages 9949-9950]

From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[FR Doc No: 2025-02931]

Presidential Documents

Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 33 / Thursday, February 20, 2025 /

Presidential Documents

[[Page 9949]]

Executive Order 14214 of February 14, 2025

Keeping Education Accessible and Ending COVID-19

Vaccine Mandates in Schools

By the authority vested in me as President by the

Constitution and the laws of the United States of

America, it is hereby ordered:

Section 1. Purpose and Policy. Some school districts

and universities continue to coerce children and young

adults into taking the COVID-19 vaccine by conditioning

their education on it, and others may re-implement such

mandates. Parents and young adults should be empowered

with accurate data regarding the remote risks of

serious illness associated with COVID-19 for children

and young adults, as well as how those risks can be

mitigated through various measures, and left free to

make their own decisions accordingly. 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. Such mandates usurp parental

authority and burden students of many faiths.

make their own decisions accordingly. 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. Such mandates usurp parental

authority and burden students of many faiths.

It is the policy of my Administration that

discretionary Federal funds should not be used to

directly or indirectly support or subsidize an

educational service agency, State educational agency,

local educational agency, elementary school, secondary

school, or institution of higher education that

requires students to have received a COVID-19

vaccination to attend any in-person education program.

Sec. 2. Definitions. For the purposes of this order:

(a) The term ``educational service agency'' has the

meaning given in 20 U.S.C. 1401(5).

(b) The term ``elementary school'' has the meaning

given in 34 CFR 77.1(c).

(c) The term ``institution of higher education''

has the meaning given in 20 U.S.C. 1001(a).

(d) The term ``local educational agency'' has the

meaning given in 34 CFR 77.1(c).

(e) The term ``secondary school'' has the meaning

given in 34 CFR 77.1(c).

given in 34 CFR 77.1(c).

(c) The term ``institution of higher education''

has the meaning given in 20 U.S.C. 1001(a).

(d) The term ``local educational agency'' has the

meaning given in 34 CFR 77.1(c).

(e) The term ``secondary school'' has the meaning

given in 34 CFR 77.1(c).

(f) The term ``State educational agency'' has the

meaning given in 34 CFR 77.1(c).

Sec. 3. Ending COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate Coercion. (a)

The Secretary of Education shall as soon as practicable

issue guidelines to elementary schools, local

educational agencies, State educational agencies,

secondary schools, and institutions of higher education

regarding those entities' legal obligations with

respect to parental authority, religious freedom,

disability accommodations, and equal protection under

law, as relevant to coercive COVID-19 school mandates.

(b) Within 90 days of the date of this order, the

Secretary of Education, in consultation with the

Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall provide

to the President, through the Assistant to the

President for Domestic Policy, a plan to end coercive

COVID-19 school mandates, consistent with applicable

law, and including, as appropriate, any proposed

legislation. Such plan shall also include:

[[Page 9950]]

Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall provide

to the President, through the Assistant to the

President for Domestic Policy, a plan to end coercive

COVID-19 school mandates, consistent with applicable

law, and including, as appropriate, any proposed

legislation. Such plan shall also include:

[[Page 9950]]

(i) a list of discretionary Federal grants and contracts provided to

elementary schools, local educational agencies, State educational agencies,

secondary schools, and institutions of higher education that are non-

compliant with the guidelines issued pursuant to subsection (a) of this

section; and

(ii) each executive department or agency's process for, to the maximum

extent consistent with applicable law, preventing Federal funds from being

provided to, and rescinding Federal funds from, elementary schools, local

educational agencies, State educational agencies, secondary schools, and

institutions of higher education that are non-compliant with the guidelines

issued pursuant to subsection (a) of this section.

Sec. 4. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order

shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or

the head thereof; or

(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget

relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with

applicable law and subject to the availability of

appropriations.

uthority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or

the head thereof; or

(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget

relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with

applicable law and subject to the availability of

appropriations.

(c) This order is not intended to, and does not,

create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural,

enforceable at law or in equity by any party against

the United States, its departments, agencies, or

entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any

other person.

(Presidential Sig.)

THE WHITE HOUSE,

February 14, 2025.

[FR Doc. 2025-02931

Filed 2-19-25; 8:45 am]

Billing code 3395-F4-P