08.11.2026 / Statement

Trump Administration Bypasses Science Again, Doubles Down on Restrictions to Childhood Vaccines

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Trump administration today issued a new executive order directing changes to the federal childhood vaccine schedule that, if fully implemented, would reduce access to life-saving vaccines for children, add new barriers to care, and further degrade the scientific process the federal government has relied on for decades to ensure vaccine access and safety. In response, Families USA executive director Anthony Wright issued the following statement:

“Today, the President announced yet another change in vaccine policy that is not based on science or medical evidence. The science has not changed. Vaccines that prevent common illnesses like rotavirus, hepatitis B, and the flu are just as safe and effective today as they were yesterday. The new policy will simply create chaos and confusion for patients and providers, and increase costs for families when getting their kids vaccinated.

“This executive order seeks to sidestep the established panel of experts entirely, replacing decades of bipartisan, public, evidence-based review with the whims of a rogue White House and HHS Secretary. This new directive sabotages a science-based process that has successfully prevented widespread outbreaks among American children for generations.

“Downgrading the universal recommendation for common, life-saving vaccines will cause confusion for parents and providers alike, and confusion costs lives. Removing the presumption that every child should receive them isn’t just dangerous; it risks undermining the guarantee that recommended vaccines are covered without cost-sharing, forcing families to choose between protecting their kids and paying for an expensive doctor’s visit.

“This order will also make vaccines harder to get, not easier. Mandating that vaccines like the MMR vaccine be split into three separate shots — products that are not currently approved for use in the U.S. yet — means triple the number of appointments, time off work, and overcoming even more barriers to care in an already overburdened primary health care system. The predictable result is fewer children will be fully vaccinated on time, if at all.

“Congress should not stay silent while the executive branch dismantles the guardrails that protect our children’s health. This order does nothing about parental choice — parents already have that. Without any medical evidence, this directive weakens the trust that every family, regardless of income or zip code, should have that the vaccines recommended for their child are grounded in evidence, not ideology. Families deserve nothing less.”