Voto Latino Expresses Concern Over President Trump’s New Executive Orders: ‘Unleashing American Energy’ and ‘Cutting Federal Funding for Schools with COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates’
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Voto Latino, the national organization dedicated to empowering Latino communities through civic engagement, expresses concern over the executive orders signed yesterday by President Trump, which withdraw federal funding from educational institutions enforcing COVID-19 vaccine mandates and establish a new council aimed at promoting U.S. energy dominance. These actions will negatively impact the well-being and advancement of Latino communities across the nation.
“The order to strip federal aid from schools and universities that require COVID-19 vaccinations undermines public health efforts and disproportionately affects Latino students and families. Latino communities have been among the hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, facing higher rates of infection and mortality. Ensuring access to safe educational environments is crucial for the recovery and progress of these communities. By penalizing institutions that implement vaccine mandates, the administration jeopardizes the health of students, educators, and their families, exacerbating existing disparities.
Additionally, the creation of a council focused on U.S. energy dominance, with plans to expedite fossil fuel projects, raises environmental justice concerns. Historically, energy infrastructure projects have disproportionately impacted Latino and other marginalized communities, leading to environmental degradation and health issues. Latino children are particularly vulnerable, with asthma rates in Latino youth higher than the national average, a condition exacerbated by pollution from such projects. We urge the administration to conduct comprehensive environmental reviews and engage in meaningful dialogue with affected communities to ensure that such projects do not adversely impact their health and well-being.
Voto Latino remains committed to advocating for the health, safety, and prosperity of Latino communities. We encourage the administration to engage in constructive discussions with community leaders to address these concerns and work towards solutions that benefit all Americans.”
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Voto Latino is a grassroots political organization focused on educating and empowering a new generation of Latino voters, as well as creating a more robust and inclusive democracy. Since its founding, Voto Latino has registered over 1.4 million voters, mobilized tens of thousands of voters in the 2022 midterms, helping to defeat the so-called “red wave” and keep the Senate majority-Democrat. In 2024, Voto Latino filed several lawsuits to defend voting rights in Texas, Arizona, and North Carolina ahead of the elections.