Higgins Fights to Defund Organizations Pushing COVID Vaccines on Children

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA) delivered a letter to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health, and Human Services (LHHS) urging them to prohibit federal funds for organizations that push COVID vaccines on young children.
 
“As you continue to work on the Fiscal Year 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Act, I urge the subcommittee to protect our children and adolescents by prohibiting federal funding to state health departments and national associations that promote the COVID-19 shot,” wrote Congressman Higgins. “Specifically, federal grant funding programs and cooperative agreements during the previous administration have included initiatives to advance COVID-19 vaccine outreach. In turn, national associations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics have continually used their platform to encourage the COVID-19 shot and influence state health departments’ recommended pediatric immunization schedules, now contrary to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s guidance regarding COVID-19 vaccinations for children.”
 
Congressman Higgins urged the inclusion of the following text in the FY26 LHHS bill: “None of the funds made available under this Act may be used to enter into, extend, or renew a contract with any entity including a state’s health department that promotes, advertises, or otherwise encourages the administration of any vaccine for COVID-19 for children and adolescents.”
 
“This language is one step to protect our children, codify President Trump’s COVID-19 oversight, and right the wrongs of the Biden Administration in the public health sector,” continued Congressman Higgins.
 
The letter follows Congressman Higgins’ vow to defund the New Orleans Health Department, which recently diverged from CDC guidance and recommended COVID vaccinations for children ages 6 months to 2 years. The full letter is available here.