Actions speak louder than words, and President Trump’s pledge, to “make America healthy again” rings hollow. – The OpEd Nurses

In the early days of President Trump’s second term, a series of executive orders have been issued that significantly impact health care policy in the United States. These orders include the rollback of policies aimed at limiting drug spending by Medicaid and Medicare, the withdrawal from the World Health Organization, and the revocation of measures designed to respond to pandemics like COVID-19. Additionally, there have been changes to immigration policies affecting healthcare access and a regulatory freeze that could delay or alter healthcare regulations.

These actions are highlighted by a powerful and prolific writing team whom I affectionately call, the OpEd Nurses. Teri Mills and Donna Gaffney have another publication to share, this time in  the Portland Tribune. The OpEd Nurses raise concerns about the future of public health and the well-being of Americans. The authors question whether these policy shifts align with the promise to “make America healthy again,” suggesting that instead, they might be eroding the very foundations of healthcare protections and incentives established to safeguard public safety and health.

Portland Tribune Opinion: Fellow Americans, did we sign up for this?

About the Authors

Teri Mills, RN emeritus, is an adult nurse practitioner (retired), the 2019 Oregon Nurse of the Year, and former president of the National Nursing Network Organization. Donna Gaffney, DNSc, PMHCNS-BC, FAAN, is a psychotherapist, advanced practice psychiatric mental health nurse, educator, and author. Both are leaders in Nurses for America, advocating for healthcare policy changes that prioritize the well-being of patients and the nursing profession.