President Trump Signs Executive Order Instructing Agencies to Minimize Burdens of the ACA

On January 20, 2017, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order instructing federal agencies to work to “minimize the unwarranted economic and regulatory burdens” of the Affordable Care Act (“ACA”), and to increase the flexibility provided to States to run healthcare programs. (The text of the order can be found at the end of this advisory.) While the Executive Order itself does not change any regulation or specific ACA-implementing policy, it sends a signal that the Trump Administration intends to use executive authority to roll back parts of the ACA and increase State flexibility.