Washington, January 24 (RHC)-- U.S. President Donald Trump has signed executive orders rolling back federal subsidies for the Affordable Care Act and threatening the healthcare of tens of millions of people.

One order reverses Biden-era efforts to lower the cost of prescription drugs for Medicare and Medicaid recipients.  Another order shortens the open enrollment period to purchase health insurance.  Yet another executive order rolls back a Biden-era program that made more parents with young children eligible for Medicaid.  Trump is also phasing out a program that lowered the cost of health insurance premiums for lower-income families.

Meanwhile, Trump has canceled scientific gatherings and panels across federal health agencies and directed all employees at the Health and Human Services Department to halt external communications, including public health advice on diseases like COVID-19, influenza and norovirus.

In more related news, a government website set up in 2022 offering information on abortion access and rights has been taken offline.  ReproductiveRights.gov has gone dark since at least Monday, the day of Trump’s inauguration.

[ SOURCE: DEMOCRACY NOW ]