WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has initiated the termination of 22 mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine development projects, marking a significant pivot in federal health policy under the second Trump administration. This move, announced in August 2025, cancels approximately $500 million in funding previously allocated through the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), citing data that indicates limited effectiveness against upper respiratory infections.
The decision comes as part of broader changes in vaccine oversight, including directives from the Trump administration to federal agencies to delete all employee COVID-19 vaccination records from databases on August 9, 2025. Newly appointed Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has outlined plans to mandate placebo-controlled trials for new vaccines, departing from previous methods that did not use saline placebos. Additionally, the administration has restricted 2025 COVID-19 vaccine approvals to high-risk groups, such as seniors, while awaiting further data on broader population impacts.
These actions trace back to Operation Warp Speed, the Trump-era initiative launched in May 2020 that injected over $10 billion into accelerating COVID-19 vaccine development, leading to emergency authorizations for Pfizer and Moderna’s mRNA vaccines by December of that year. Pfizer’s vaccine, which received partial funding from the program, reported over 90% efficacy in November 2020 trials, though the company has sought to distance itself from direct involvement. Moderna, meanwhile, benefited from nearly $1 billion in Warp Speed support for its shot, which utilized technology patented by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), fueling ongoing debates about the balance between public investment and private gains.
Reports suggest the administration, influenced by Kennedy, may impose a ban on COVID-19 vaccines within months, though White House officials have denied any immediate plans. The shifts have drawn criticism from state leaders, including Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, who on August 28, 2025, described the changes at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as creating “turmoil” in public health efforts.
As of September 1, 2025, federal health officials are redirecting resources toward alternative vaccine platforms, amid persistent concerns over mRNA technology’s safety and long-term efficacy. The policy overhaul reflects a reevaluation of pandemic-era strategies, with implications for future vaccine development and public trust in immunization programs.