Executive Orders Archives - EMPLOYEE BENEFITS BLOG

New EO Targets Prescription Drug Costs – and Drug Manufacturers, Hospitals, and Health Centers

by Emily J. Cook, Michael Ryan and Sydney Merritt Martinez | May 15, 2025 | Employee Benefits, Health and Welfare Plans

On April 15, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order (EO) aimed at addressing the cost of prescription drugs. This EO, titled “Lowering Drug Prices by Once Again Putting Americans First,” outlines specific directives designed to reduce drug prices and improve access for US patients. Of particular note for sponsors and providers of employer health plans, the EO tasks the US secretary of labor with proposing regulations to improve employer health plan fiduciary transparency into direct and indirect compensation received by pharmacy benefit managers.

5 Trends in Health Plan Regulations to Watch in New Trump Administration

by Sarah Raaii and Alden Bianchi | May 8, 2025 | Health and Welfare Plans

With a new presidential administration, the changing regulatory landscape regarding health benefits – often, the second-largest expense for a business after salaries – has been top of mind for HR executives. Much of the early commentary focused on contested “red state/blue state” issues, such as gender-affirming care. The president’s ever-growing list of executive orders now gives us additional hints about the health benefits items that have attracted the administration’s interest and driven changes in health plan regulation trends.

In this HR Executive article, Sarah Raaii and Alden Bianchi discuss five key health plan regulation trends that HR executives should watch under the new administration.

Access the article.

What You Need to Know About President Trump’s Executive Order on Immigration Issues

by Joan-Elisse Carpentier | Feb 3, 2017 | Employment

Over the past week, President Donald J. Trump signed three Executive Orders involving US immigration issues. The Executive Order signed on January 27, 2017, was somewhat unexpected in terms of its focus and the extent of its reach. Entitled “Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States,” the order has an immediate impact on millions of legal immigrants, nonimmigrants and US businesses.

Since the order was signed, there have been numerous announcements from the US Department of Homeland Security, including US Citizenship & Immigration Services and US Customs & Border Protection, as well as the US Department of State. Many of these announcements have been contradictory or have been superseded immediately by other information. This is an ever-changing situation, but the following information is current as of press time:

Nonimmigrant and immigrant visa processing has been suspended for nationals of Iraq, Iran, Syria, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.

Issuance of visas has been suspended for a period of 90 days. The US embassies and consulates have cancelled immigrant visa appointments for the month of February. Further cancellations are expected.

Suspension of visa processing does not include those traveling on diplomatic visas; NATO visas; C-2 and C-3 visas for UN and foreign transit; and G-1, G-2, G-3 and G-4 visas.

Nationals of Iraq, Iran, Syria, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen in possession of valid nonimmigrant and immigrant visas are barred from entry to the United States for a period of 90 days.

Immediately after the Order was signed, many nationals of the aforementioned countries boarded flights to the United States. These travelers experienced long waits in the inspections area, only to be denied admission to the United States. At the present time, airlines will not board individuals from the aforementioned countries who hold nonimmigrant or immigrant visas.

Nonimmigrant and immigrant visas of nationals of Iraq, Iran, Syria, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen have been provisionally revoked.

Revocation goes hand-in-hand with the ban on travel to the United States, but it is still unknown whether those holding such visas will need to have them reissued in the future or if their visa status will be reinstated in some manner.

Nationals of Iraq, Iran, Syria, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen may be issued visas or granted other immigration benefits on a case-by-case basis if the Secretaries of State and Homeland Security determine it is in the national interest to issue visas or benefits to such individuals.

At the present time no procedure has been announced for requesting review of a visa application under the “national interest” exception.

It has been determined that nationals from the seven countries who are US permanent residents will be readmitted to the United States as being in the national interest, provided no derogatory information about an individual is uncovered.