In response to Donald Trump slashing ACA navigator funding ahead of his meeting with Big Pharma executives, DNC Rapid Response Director Alex Floyd released the following statement:

“After already rescinding the Biden-Harris administration’s actions to lower drug costs, Donald Trump just made it even harder for working Americans to get the coverage they need by ordering ‘the largest cut’ in funding for health care access since the critical ACA Navigator program began. Now, on the heels of doing Big Pharma’s bidding, Trump is rolling out the red carpet and hosting the pharmaceutical industry’s biggest lobbying group at the White House. Let’s be clear: Trump will always side with Big Pharma and health insurance executives over hardworking Americans.”

NEW: Donald Trump is rolling back funding for ACA navigators while cozying up with Big Pharma executives.  

Healthcare Dive: “The Trump administration has slashed funding for groups that help consumers navigate the Affordable Care Act exchanges by 90%, in the largest cut since the program began over one decade ago. …

“[P]atient advocates and healthcare researchers said the move will make it significantly more difficult for Americans to understand and access the right coverage for their health needs.”

Bloomberg: “The pharmaceutical industry’s biggest lobbying group is scheduled to meet with President Donald Trump on Thursday, according to people familiar with the matter, part of an effort to persuade him to scale back some of his predecessor’s policies.”

Wall Street Journal: “Inside Trump’s Million-Dollar Dinners With Healthcare Executives”

“Since the dinners, Trump has publicly embraced arguments he heard from the executives, even if the ideas conflicted, according to people familiar with the conversations. …

“In January, the CEOs of the companies that own the three largest PBMs, as well as big insurers, had a Mar-a-Lago dinner of their own, after their companies gave at least $1 million, according to people familiar with the dinner.”

REMINDER: Trump signed an executive order rescinding the Biden-Harris administration’s protections for the ACA and Medicaid – on top of rescinding a Biden-Harris order to lower drug costs.  

White House: “The following executive actions are hereby revoked: …

“Executive Order 14009 of January 28, 2021 (Strengthening Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act). …

“Executive Order 14087 of October 14, 2022 (Lowering Prescription Drug Costs for Americans).”

Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services: “Executive Order 14009 in 2021 established the policy objective to protect and strengthen Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and to make high-quality health care accessible and affordable for every American.”

Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services: “President Biden issued Executive Order (EO) 14087, ‘Lowering Prescription Drug Costs for Americans,’ to further address prescription drug affordability through the work of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (the Innovation Center). The Innovation Center tests innovative payment and service delivery models designed to reduce program expenditures while preserving or enhancing the quality of care furnished to its beneficiaries.”

After coming up just one vote short of repealing the ACA in his first term, Trump spent his campaign pledging to repeal it when he returned to the White House. 

NBC News: “Trump approved a surprise decision to push for the complete elimination of the Affordable Care Act in the courts. If it succeeds, millions of Americans will lose their private insurance or Medicaid coverage and the health care system would be thrown into chaos.”

NPR: “The very day President Trump was sworn in — Jan. 20, 2017 — he signed an executive order instructing administration officials ‘to waive, defer, grant exemptions from, or delay’ implementing parts of the Affordable Care Act, while Congress got ready to repeal and replace President Obama’s signature health law.” 

The Hill: “On the campaign trail, Trump has doubled down on his promise to repeal the ACA, a feat he fell one vote short of in 2017.”

Associated Press: “Trump says he will renew efforts to replace ‘Obamacare’ if he wins a second term”

New York Magazine: “Vance: Trump’s Health-Care Plan Is to Let Insurers Charge More for Preexisting Conditions”

“What Vance came up with is not only surprising but, if understood properly, far more damaging than Trump’s original statement. The Trump plan, according to Vance, is to permit insurance companies to discriminate against people with preexisting conditions.”

REALITY CHECK: The majority of Americans approve of the Affordable Care Act and think the government has a “responsibility to ensure all Americans have healthcare coverage.” 

Gallup: “Sixty-two percent of U.S. adults, the highest percentage in more than a decade, say it is the federal government’s responsibility to ensure all Americans have healthcare coverage. …

“Fifty-four percent of U.S. adults approve of the ACA, essentially tying the record-high 55% readings in April 2017 (during Republican-led attempts to repeal the law) and November 2020 (after Joe Biden won election as president).” 

KFF Poll: “Majorities of Democrats [88%], Republicans [62%], and independents [73%] say it is ‘very important’ to continue each of [the Affordable Care Act’s] protections for people with pre-existing conditions.”