President Trump kicked off his second term by issuing a sweeping executive order aimed at undoing many of the key policies implemented by former President Biden. The order, signed at the Capital One Arena in front of a cheering crowd, targeted a wide range of issues, from healthcare costs to Covid-19 outreach and protections against gender-based discrimination.
One of the major policy reversals included in the order was the revocation of Biden’s executive order to test Medicare and Medicaid models that could potentially lower healthcare costs. Trump also rolled back efforts to expand access to Covid-19 treatments and vaccines, as well as the formation of a Gender Policy Council and multiple gender and sex discrimination protections. Additionally, federal workers were instructed to return to their offices full time and federal hiring was frozen, with a few exceptions.
In a bold move, Trump also ordered the U.S. to begin the process of withdrawing from the World Health Organization, citing mishandling of the Covid-19 pandemic. These executive orders are the first steps in the process of regulatory changes and rulemaking at federal agencies, although they may face legal challenges or congressional intervention as some of Biden’s orders were tied to laws passed by Congress.
Regarding healthcare, Trump rescinded Biden’s executive orders that extended enrollment periods for Affordable Care Act plans and provided extra funding for enrolling individuals in ACA insurance. These measures had helped increase ACA enrollment to around 24 million people, largely due to government subsidies that lowered premiums. Trump also reversed an executive order that prompted the creation of three drug pricing experiments by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI).
The drug pricing experiments aimed to help state Medicaid programs pay for expensive cell and gene therapies, reduce payments for drugs receiving accelerated FDA approvals, and offer generic drugs for common chronic conditions at a flat copay. The expected head of CMMI under the Trump administration is former White House and Department of Health and Human Services aide, Abe Sutton.
On the Covid-19 front, Trump revoked several of Biden’s policies aimed at combating the pandemic and preparing for future infectious disease outbreaks. These policies were put in place in 2021 to enhance testing, research into treatments, provide economic relief, and improve cooperation with other countries in the event of another pandemic.
In line with his campaign promises, Trump also targeted health and education policies that provided protections for LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly transgender individuals. He rescinded orders that prohibited discrimination based on sexual or gender identity, support for LGBTQ+ students, and programs promoting conversion therapy. Additionally, Trump revoked orders promoting protections based on sex and gender identity in schools and disbanded the Gender Policy Council.
Overall, President Trump’s executive orders mark a significant shift in healthcare and social policies, setting the tone for his second term in office. The impact of these reversals remains to be seen, as they may face legal challenges and pushback from various stakeholders.
