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Trump signs executive order to space out childhood vaccines — What the new plan means
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US President Donald Trump on Monday signed an executive order seeking changes to federal childhood vaccine recommendations, including a push to separate some vaccines into different shots and medical visits.The move reflects Trump's long-standing view that children should receive vaccines separately rather than getting multiple shots during the same visit. However, public health experts have warned that delaying doses could leave children vulnerable to preventable diseases.Here is what the executive order means and what could change.What is Trump order?The executive order, AP report cited The Daily Caller, directs the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to pursue revised childhood vaccine recommendations and expand vaccine research.According to a White House fact sheet, the administration reportedly wants to promote separating the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine into three individual shots given at separate medical visits.There is an important practical hurdle: separate measles, mumps and rubella vaccines are not currently available for children in the US.Trump also said at the Oval Office that one-year-old children should have their vaccinations spread across five separate visits. It was not immediately clear whether he meant all vaccines given at that age or only certain vaccinations.Why does the administration want vaccines separated?Trump has repeatedly argued that children receive too many vaccines or too many shots at once.The new order is part of a broader effort by the administration to revisit how vaccines are recommended, including the timing and combination of childhood immunisations.The administration also wants HHS to improve research into vaccines and examine how other countries structure their vaccination recommendations.However, childhood vaccine schedules are based on clinical studies that assess not only whether individual vaccines are safe, but also when they should be given and whether they can safely be administered together.What are the concerns about spacing out vaccines?Public health experts have raised concerns that separating vaccines could create longer gaps in children's protection.If a child receives one vaccine but has to return weeks or months later for another, there is a greater period during which the child could contract a disease that could otherwise have been prevented.This is particularly significant for diseases such as measles, which is highly contagious.Experts also note that requiring several additional medical appointments could make it harder for families to complete the recommended vaccination schedule.Does the order make vaccines mandatory?No.The federal government does not have the power to directly impose vaccination requirements for children attending schools.Individual states determine school vaccination requirements, including which vaccines children must receive and what exemptions are available.The White House fact sheet says the executive order will encourage states with school vaccine mandates to consider changing their laws to reflect the administration's revised recommendations.Whether states actually change their requirements remains up to individual state governments.What happened to Trump's earlier vaccine review?The latest order follows another Trump directive issued in December 2025, when he instructed HHS to examine how other countries approach childhood vaccine recommendations and consider changes to US guidance.HHS subsequently reduced the number of vaccines it recommended for every child.That move, however, has since been blocked by a court.Monday's executive order therefore represents another attempt by the administration to reshape federal vaccine policy.What does Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have to do with the policy?The new vaccine policy is closely linked to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has long questioned aspects of US vaccine policy.Trump has also repeatedly pressed Kennedy to investigate the causes of autism.At a Cabinet me
Taiwan plans to spend a record NT$1.1 trillion ($34.1 billion) on its military in 2027, a semi-official media outlet reported, a move that comes as the US pushes it to do more to deter China.Taiwan Plans Record Defense Budget to Counter China, Report SaysTaiwan plans to spend a record NT$1.1 trillion on its military in 2027, a semi-official media outlet reported, a move that comes as the US pushes it to do more to deter China.The defense budget for the year would exceed 3% of GDP, the Taipei-based Central News Agency reported, citing a person familiar with the matter. The figure compares with the NT$949.5 billion the cabinet earlier proposed for this year.The cabinet is set to discuss the spending plan on Aug. 20. The final amount could change because it needs the approval of the legislature, which the opposition controls.Taiwan President Lai Ching-te has made stepping up defense spending and military preparation a focus since taking office more than two years ago. The report about the budget plan comes as the military holds its flagship annual Han Kuang exercises.In February last year, Lai set a target of spending 3% of gross domestic product on the armed forces. That move followed Trump questioning the democracy’s commitment to protecting itself from China, which sees Taiwan as part of its territory that must be brought under its control by force if needed.Taipei rejects Beijing’s view, and condemns China for stepping up military and coast guard activity near Taiwan in recent years.Earlier this year, Taiwanese lawmakers approved a $24.8 billion special defense budget — a figure that was less than Lai sought. Some of the funds will go toward the T-Dome air-defense system that is intended to protect the island from aerial threats.Taiwan’s initial military budget for this year surged by 23%, though officials included money for the coast guard and veteran pensions in the figure for the first time. The central government budget for 2026, including military funds, hasn’t been approved by the legislature yet due to a standoff between political parties.©2026 Bloomberg L.P.This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Two classified videos allegedly showing a large, black triangular unidentified flying object (UFO) flying over a Colorado military base remain inaccessible to the public despite a new order from President Donald Trump aimed at encouraging more UFO whistleblowers to come forward, according to sources cited by The New York Post.The videos were reportedly recorded on a service member’s personal cellphone on two consecutive nights in 2023. Sources familiar with the footage said the material remains classified by the US Air Force and is being held by the Air Force Office of Special Investigations in Colorado.Videos allegedly show 100-foot triangular craftAccording to news outlet, the two videos allegedly capture a roughly 100-foot black triangular craft moving over mountains and appearing to camouflage itself within clouds.The footage is reportedly associated with the file numbers IRR1669S015524 and IRR1669S005024, according to sources cited by the publication.The alleged videos have not been publicly released, and their contents cannot be independently verified.The claims come amid renewed debate over whether the Trump administration's latest directive will make it easier for people with knowledge of classified unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) programs to disclose what they know.Whistleblower says ‘nothing has changed’Former US Air Force veteran and contractor Dylan Borland, who has previously spoken publicly about his alleged UAP encounter, said the new order does not address the concerns of whistleblowers who want to speak publicly.“This does nothing for the people who could have come forward and spoken already,” Borland was quoted as saying. “Nothing has changed.”Borland testified before Congress in 2024 that he had witnessed what he described as a massive triangular UFO hovering silently over a NASA hangar.He said the object remained stationary for several minutes before rapidly ascending to an altitude associated with commercial aircraft.Borland also alleged that he faced professional retaliation after raising concerns, including problems involving his security clearance, workplace harassment and damage to his career.Former contractor alleges secret Pentagon UFO programmeMatthew Brown, a former defence industry contractor, has also questioned whether Trump's directive will allow whistleblowers to disclose information directly to the public.Brown publicly discussed some of the information he said he had previously provided to the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI).He alleged that a secret Pentagon programme known as “Immaculate Constellation” collected information on and recovered UFOs.“[Trump’s order] frankly doesn’t do anything new,” Brown said, according to The Post. “It does not free whistleblowers to speak publicly.”Brown said he lost his contracting job after going through official whistleblower channels and alleged that he was subsequently subjected to damaging allegations.He has also criticised the role of AARO and ODNI in handling UAP-related disclosures.“AARO and ODNI should not have any leadership role in this project as they have discredited themselves,” Brown said.The allegations surrounding Immaculate Constellation and other purported programmes remain disputed and have not been independently established as evidence of extraterrestrial technology.Some whistleblowers welcome Trump’s moveNot all former officials and whistleblowers have dismissed the administration's action.Former Air Force intelligence officer David Grusch, who became one of the most prominent UAP whistleblowers after making allegations about secret government programmes, said he welcomed Trump's directive.“I welcome President Trump’s action and hope it gives courage to those who have said nondisclosure agreements prevented them from telling Congress or the Executive Branch what they know,” Grusch told The Post.Grusch previously filed an Inspector General complaint allegi
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