System.Data.SqlClient not found at run-time (installed release .exe)

[pel11]

I am using the VS2022 template (project) for setup and deployment. I am not using any sql in the Winform app (.NET 7.0). Occasionally, when compiling (building) the assembly, the assembly will populate a listing of System.Data.SqlClient in the setup dependencies. If I manually delete the System.Data.SqlClient dependency in the setup project, then build the setup, there are no issues.

However, with the latest version of VS (Pro), I started noticing the exception System.Data.SqlClient not found during run-time of the installed .exe (bulit in \Release\bin). Whether or not this is due to the latest update of VS, I am wondering how to stop the compiled/installed app assembly from *looking for* System.Data.SqlClient. I have all the namespaces (Imports...) removed that mention Sql. The attached pic is from actual run-time of the installed .exe