Trump begins process to ‘minimize the burden’ of Obamacare
President Donald Trump has signed his first executive order as president, ordering federal agencies to ease the burden of President Barack Obama’s sweeping health care law.
Presidential spokesman Sean Spicer refused to offer details on the order.
Trump was joined in the Oval Office by Vice President Mike Pence, White House chief of staff Reince Priebus and other top advisers as he signed the executive order on the so-called “Obamacare” law that he opposed throughout his campaign.
Trump also formally signed the commissions of incoming Defense Secretary James Mattis and Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly.
The White House says Priebus was also sending a memorandum to agencies and departments instituting an immediate freeze on regulations. No additional details were immediately available.
Asked about his first day as president, Trump says, “It was busy but good — a beautiful day.”
In other news involving Trump and his first day in office:
— He signed a proclamation declaring a national day of patriotism, according to Spicer.
— WhiteHouse.gov was revamped to reflect Trump’s policy priorities. Gone was a page dedicated to outlining the president’s policies on LGBT rights. Trump’s site appears to make no reference to the issue. Also, in place of a page promoting the Obama administration’s Climate Action Plan was a page detailing Trump’s “America First Energy Plan,” which stresses Trump’s commitment to “eliminating harmful and unnecessary policies such as the Climate Action Plan.”
— The Department of Housing and Urban Development suspended the Obama administration’s planned reduction of mortgage insurance premium rates, a move that had been intended to make home ownership more affordable. Trump’s choice to run HUD, Ben Carson, said at Senate hearings that he wants to examine the reductions.
