States set school vaccine requirements. Trump’s new executive order doesn’t change that

As American families prepare for the new academic year, a fresh executive order from President Donald Trump is fueling a national debate over childhood vaccinations. The directive aims to reduce the number of federally recommended shots and urges states to expand religious and medical exemptions for students.

Despite this push from the White House, the authority to mandate vaccines for school attendance remains firmly in the hands of individual states. Legal experts and state health departments are signaling that federal recommendations do not automatically rewrite local laws.

States Stand Their Ground

Several states have already moved to clarify that their policies are not shifting. The Texas health department confirmed that "Federal recommendations do not change the requirements in Texas," while Maine officials emphasized that their science-based immunization programs will continue as planned.

The administration is attempting to leverage federal funding through the Departments of Justice, Education, and Health and Human Services to encourage compliance. However, the U.S. Supreme Court has historically upheld the right of states to manage their own public health policies regarding schools.

The Exemption Landscape

Currently, all 50 states allow medical exemptions, and the vast majority permit non-medical opt-outs for religious or personal reasons. Only four states—California, Connecticut, Maine, and New York—have maintained strict rules that generally bar non-medical exemptions.

Any significant changes to these laws would typically require action from state legislatures. In some cases, the courts have intervened, such as in Mississippi, where a federal court order recently forced the state to begin allowing religious exemptions.

Public Health Concerns

The executive order also suggests breaking the combined MMR vaccine into three separate shots, a move that contradicts scientific consensus. Public health experts warn that this could lead to confusion and further declines in immunization rates, which are already at record lows for incoming kindergartners.

With measles cases hitting a 35-year high in the U.S., a coalition of governors has criticized the new federal stance. The Governors Public Health Alliance stated that the order "circumvents" a rigorous scientific process and risks endangering children by ignoring established safety data.