Tracking presidential actions and other news.
48 posts
Trump II Noms RFK Jr to Lead Department of Health and Human Services.
Trump II Nominates Dr Mehmet Oz to Lead Centers for and Medicare and Medicaid Services. Oof.
Trump II Nominates Former Florida Republican Congressman Dave Weldon to Lead CDC. A vax skeptic, natch.
Trump II Nominates Dr. Janette Nesheiwat as Surgeon General. Missed this yesterday.
Trump II Chooses Jay Bhattacharya to Lead National Institutes of Health.
Trump II Officials Shutdown All External Communications From HHS Health Agencies (Like FDC, NIH, CDC, etc): Pending review.
Trump II Freezes Many Activities at NIH.
Trump II Reinstates “Mexico City” Abortion Policy. This blocks U.S. funding for international health organizations that promote, advise, etc abortion
Trump II Signs EO Revoking Biden EOs That Supported Access to Reproductive Health, Including Abortion.
Trump II Pauses Funding for H.I.V. Treatment Programs in Africa. Could be 90 days, could be 180. Dubya launched this program, one of the few decent things he did.
Establishing the President’s Make America Healthy Again Commission. Sets up a commission to look at chronic illness, in particular calls out certain types of psychiatric drugs for review.
Thousands of Federal Health Research Employees Fired.
More Mass Firings at Federal Health Agencies. FDA, Medicare, and Emergency Response group.
Expanding Access to IVF. Instructs the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy (Vince Haley) to come up with some ideas to reduce regulatory requirements to reduce the cost of IVF.
Making America Healthy Again by Empowering Patients With Clear, Accurate, and Actionable Healthcare Pricing Information. Directs Departments of Treasury, Labor, and Health and Human Services to enforce existing healthcare price transparency regulations. The order requires hospitals and insurers to disclose actual prices of services, standardize pricing information, and update enforcement policies to ensure compliance.
Department to lose about a quarter of its staff. More details: Thousands at CDC, FDA Laid Off.
The order directs Federal agencies to prioritize gold-standard research and increase transparency to gain new insights to aid those with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). It also emphasizes the importance of early detection and intervention to improve long-term outcomes for individuals with ASD. The order calls on all Americans to learn more about the signs of autism to improve early diagnosis, understand the challenges faced by individuals with autism, and find ways to support those with autism and their families.
The order directs Federal agencies to focus on groundbreaking medical advancements and innovative treatments to combat and prevent cancer. It establishes the Make America Healthy Again Commission to address the root causes of America’s chronic disease crisis. The order also emphasizes the need for transparency and the elimination of conflicts of interest in federally-funded health research, and promotes the use of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence for research in genomics and immunotherapy.
The order directs Federal agencies to recognize April 2025 as National Donate Life Month. It encourages all eligible individuals, regardless of age or medical history, to consider becoming organ donors and share this decision with family and loved ones. The order also mentions the option to register through state registries, the Department of Motor Vehicles, or www.organdonor.gov.
The order proclaims May 2025 as National Mental Health Awareness Month, urging all Americans to support those suffering from mental illnesses and raise awareness through appropriate programs and activities. It also tasks the Make America Healthy Again Commission with addressing the country's health crisis, providing transparency and open-source data, conducting research, improving access to nutritious food, and expanding treatment options. The order further emphasizes commitment to ensuring veterans have access to mental health care and suicide prevention resources.
The order directs federal agencies to streamline regulations and facilitate domestic production of critical pharmaceutical products. Specifically, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, through the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, is to review existing regulations and guidance within 180 days, eliminating any unnecessary requirements and accelerating the development of domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing. The order also instructs the FDA Commissioner to improve the inspection process of foreign manufacturing facilities within 90 days.
The president withdrew the nomination of Dr. Janette Nesheiwat for Surgeon General after questions about her medical degree were raised. The president also announced Nesheiwat's replacement: Casey Means, a wellness influencer with a medical degree from Stanford. She has been an advocate of of the view that chronic illnesses are metabolic in origin. (RFK Jr shares those views.)
The order directs federal agencies to implement most-favored-nation prescription drug pricing for American consumers. The Secretary of Commerce and the United States Trade Representative are instructed to prevent foreign countries from engaging in practices that force American patients to subsidize global pharmaceutical research and development. The Secretary of Health and Human Services is tasked to facilitate programs for direct-to-consumer sales at the most-favored-nation price and to set price targets in line with those in comparably developed nations. If significant progress is not made, the Secretary is authorized to propose rulemaking to impose most-favored-nation pricing and consider allowing importation of prescription drugs from developed nations with low-cost prescription drugs.
The Food and Drug Administration said this week it would start the process of removing children's prescription fluoride drops and tablets from the market. FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary said he's instructed agency scientists to evaluate the evidence that fluoride is harmful. Dentists adamantly disagree that fluoride in recommended dosages is harmful.
A federal judge ordered the Trumpo II administration to reinstate nearly 200 workers who screen coal miners for black lung disease. The judge said the administration lacked the authority to shutter the Coal Workers’ Health Surveillance Program, which was created in 1969 under the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act. The workers were back on the job a day after the ruling.
The Food and Drug Adminstration said Tuesday that it will limit Covid-19 vaccinations to people 65 and older. People at high risk seriously illness if they become infected will also be allowed Covid shots. The FDA will also require manufacturers to conduct clinical trials to show whether the vaccines benefit healthy younger adults and children.
The proclamation designates May 2025 as National Physical Fitness and Sports Month. It encourages the public to incorporate physical fitness and sports participation into their daily lives. It also highlights previous executive actions taken to expand children's participation in sports and to maintain so-called 'fair' competition in women's sports.
The Trump administration has ended a $258 million program searching for an H.I.V. vaccine. The program conducts research that lays the groundwork for future clinical testing. National Institutes of Health officials said the agency would refocus on currently effective treatments. Earlier, the administration had cut funding for international H.I.V. mitigation and separately, nixed funding for vaccine research carried out by Moderna.
The Trump White House said it had rescinded a Biden-era policy that required hospitals to provide emergency abortions to women whose health was threatened, including in states that have banned abortion. While the policy memo is rescinded, the administration's statement said hospitals are still required to provide emergency care.
The order directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Administrators of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to take action to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse in Medicaid. This includes ensuring that Medicaid payment rates are not higher than Medicare rates. The directive comes following a reported rise in State Directed Payments, which quadrupled over the last four years, reaching $110 billion in 2024.
Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy Jr fired all 17 members of a vaccine advisory committee, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, and said he would replace them. The Health Secretary said the firings were required to rebuild "public confidence in vaccine science." He said the "new members will prioritize public health and evidence-based medicine. The Committee will no longer function as a rubber stamp for industry profit-taking agendas." Medical groups, including the American Medical Association, denounced the move.
Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F Kennedy Jr chose eight people for an influential vaccine advisory panel. Picks include a well-known pediatric infectious disease expert and several anti-vax or vaccine-skeptical people. Earlier the Secretary fired all 17 members of the Advisory Committee in Immunization Practices. The committee requires eight to function. The first meeting of the RFK, Jr selected roster is June 25-27.
The administration plans to reconsider a ban on the only form of asbestos still used in the United States. "White" asbestos is banned in 50 countries due to its link to lung cancer. It is used in the U.S. for roofing, textiles, cement, brake pads, and other uses. The Biden-era E.P.A proposed the ban in 2024. The Trump administration now plans to delay the ban and review the rule, a process that can take several years.
The order directs the Environmental Protection Agency to exempt certain stationary sources, including commercial sterilization facilities, from compliance with the Ethylene Oxide Emissions Standards for Sterilization Facilities Residual Risk and Technology Review (EtO Rule) for an additional two years. The EtO Rule, which imposes new emissions-control requirements, has been deemed burdensome and potentially disruptive to the supply of sterilized medical equipment. The exemption is based on the determination that the technology to implement the EtO Rule is not commercially viable and that maintaining the supply of sterilized medical equipment is in the national security interests of the United States.
The order directs federal agencies to address homelessness and related issues in the United States. The Attorney General, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, is to take steps to encourage civil commitment of individuals with mental illness who pose risks to themselves or the public and are living on the streets. The Attorney General, along with the Secretaries of Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, and Transportation, are to prioritize discretionary grants to states and municipalities that enforce prohibitions on drug use, urban camping, and loitering, and that address individuals with mental illness or substance use disorder. The order also directs resources towards assessing homeless individuals arrested for federal crimes, and ensuring detainees with serious mental illness are not released due to lack of forensic bed capacity
The order directs federal agencies to revoke the existing President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition and reestablish it under a new title, which includes the reintroduction of the Presidential Fitness Test. The Secretary of Health and Human Services, with the support of the Secretary of Education, is instructed to administer the fitness test. The order also establishes a council consisting of up to 30 members appointed by the President to advise on the progress of the order's provisions and recommend actions to accelerate such progress.
The order directs federal agencies to enhance the resilience of the American pharmaceutical supply chain by filling the Strategic Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients Reserve (SAPIR). The Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) within the Department of Health and Human Services is instructed to develop a list of approximately 26 critical drugs and secure a 6-month supply of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) for these drugs. The ASPR is also tasked with preparing the existing SAPIR repository to receive and maintain APIs. Furthermore, the ASPR is directed to provide a plan for obtaining, storing, and maintaining a 6-month supply of APIs for essential medicines, along with a proposal for opening a second SAPIR repository in the United States within a year.
The proclamation designates August 31 through September 6, 2025, as Overdose Prevention Week. It encourages Americans to participate in activities that raise awareness about the prescription opioid and drug overdose epidemic. The proclamation also references the HALT Fentanyl Act, which classifies fentanyl-related compounds as Schedule I drugs, and the designation of cartels as foreign terrorist organizations as measures taken to combat the drug crisis.
The order directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Commissioner of Food and Drugs to take action to ensure transparency and accuracy in direct-to-consumer prescription drug advertising. This includes increasing the amount of information about any risks associated with the use of any such prescription drug in advertisements, as well as enforcing the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act's prescription drug advertising provisions. The goal is to ensure truthful and non-misleading information in these advertisements.
The order directs federal agencies to utilize artificial intelligence (AI) to improve diagnosis, treatment, and prevention strategies for pediatric cancer. The Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission, in coordination with the Secretary of Health and Human Services and other officials, will focus on accelerating AI-driven solutions at the Childhood Cancer Data Initiative (CCDI), which receives $50 million in funding annually for 10 years. The order also instructs these agencies to increase investment in pediatric cancer research, encourage private sector use of advanced technologies, and ensure AI innovation is integrated into current work on interoperability for electronic health record and claims data.
The proclamation recognizes National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and emphasizes the importance of early detection and preventative measures in combating breast cancer. It encourages all Americans to understand their family history and other risk factors, and to implement lifestyle changes that may reduce cancer risk. The proclamation also commits to prioritizing research and medical advancements to accelerate cures.
The order directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to review and potentially update the United States core childhood vaccine schedule. The review will compare the US recommendations, which currently include vaccinations for 18 diseases, with the practices of peer developed countries like Denmark, Japan, and Germany, which recommend fewer vaccinations. If the review finds that the practices of these countries are superior, the US schedule will be updated to align with these findings while maintaining access to currently available vaccines.
The order directs federal agencies to increase research into medical marijuana and cannabidiol (CBD). It highlights the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) support for marijuana's use in treating certain medical conditions and the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) recommendation to reclassify marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). The order also points to the potential of hemp-derived cannabinoids to improve patient symptoms and calls for enhanced research infrastructure to better inform doctors and patients about marijuana and CBD use.
The order directs federal agencies to prioritize addiction treatment and recovery, establishing the White House Great American Recovery Initiative. This initiative will be co-chaired by the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Senior Advisor for Addiction Recovery, with involvement from various other officials such as the Attorney General and the Secretary of Education. The initiative aims to coordinate a national response to addiction that includes the healthcare sector, faith communities, and the private sector.
This proclamation designates adjusted import measures for pharmaceuticals and their active ingredients, responding to a Commerce Department section 232 finding that imports of patented pharmaceuticals and APIs threaten national security and economic resilience as of April 2, 2026. It directs the Secretary of Commerce and other federal agencies to implement actions such as negotiating onshoring agreements tied to Most-Favored-Nation pricing and imposing significant tariffs and other trade measures to reduce reliance on foreign production, noting that about 53 percent of patented pharmaceutical products and only 15 percent of patented APIs by volume were produced domestically as of 2025.
The order directs federal agencies to accelerate research, review, and patient access for psychedelic drugs (including ibogaine compounds) to treat serious mental illnesses by prioritizing FDA review and creating pathways under the Right to Try Act. It instructs the FDA to issue National Priority Vouchers for qualifying Breakthrough Therapy psychedelic drugs and directs the FDA and DEA to establish handling authorizations and access pathways for eligible patients and treating physicians.
This proclamation declares May 2026 as National Physical Fitness and Sports Month. It directs federal agencies to promote healthy lifestyles, expand access to athletic opportunities, support youth sports and college athletics by enforcing eligibility, transfer, and compensation rules, and revitalize the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition and the Presidential Fitness Test, while noting upcoming major sporting events over the next three years and the planned Patriot Games for the Nation’s 250th anniversary.