Trump enters Oval Office for first time as President; Signs bill directing agencies to ease Obamacare regulations

In his first executive order, President Trump on Friday directed government agencies to scale back as many aspects of the Affordable Care Act as possible, moving within hours of being sworn in to fulfill his pledge to eviscerate Barack Obama’s signature health care law.

The one-page order, which Mr. Trump signed in a hastily arranged Oval Office ceremony shortly before departing for the inaugural balls, gave no specifics about which aspects of the law it was targeting. But its broad language gave federal agencies wide latitude to change, delay or waive provisions of the law that they deemed overly costly for insurers, drug makers, doctors, patients or states, suggesting that it could have wide-ranging impact, and essentially allowing the dismantling of the law to begin even before Congress moves to repeal it. Continue reading “Trump enters Oval Office for first time as President; Signs bill directing agencies to ease Obamacare regulations”

First acts as President: Trump signs bill allowing Mattis confirmation, proclaims National Day of Patriotism

President Donald Trump signed his first bill into law Friday, moments after being sworn in, clearing the way for his defense secretary to be confirmed.

The 45th President signed a bill passed by Congress earlier this month that would allow retired Gen. James Mattis to serve as defense secretary by waiving the legal requirement that he be out of the military for seven years before doing so, according to White House press secretary Sean Spicer.

Cameras rolled as Trump signed his first orders as President in the Capitol, surrounded by congressional leaders. Continue reading “First acts as President: Trump signs bill allowing Mattis confirmation, proclaims National Day of Patriotism”