Federal Health Policy Updates for the Week of January 20, 2025
Federal Health Policy Updates from Duke Health Government Relations
January 24, 2025
The Rundown
First week of new administration
Hearings and votes are underway for cabinet nominees
What’s up NC delegation?
From our desks
Join the Duke Health Advocacy Network!
A new presidency begins
It was a cold inauguration day in Washington, DC on Monday, as President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance took the oath of office in the Capitol Rotunda, the first to do so since Ronald Reagan in 1985. Following the oath of office and the inaugural address, the new President spent the rest of the day between celebrations and starting work on his priorities. Kicking things off, President Trump signed 26 Executive Orders on Monday alone. Since then, he has continued signing additional executive orders and instituting a number of policy changes within the executive departments. A full list of the Executive Orders signed by President Trump is available here.
As anticipated, several Executive Orders and other policy changes have implications for Duke University and the health system in areas central to our operations and mission. We share your concerns with these orders and ask for your patience as we learn more.
Many of us, including the Counsel's Office, Compliance, and others, are very engaged and closely monitoring the Executive Orders, and the guidance on these will continue to be developed and refined. Over the next few weeks, we anticipate receiving clarification and guidance from the oversight agencies and a better understanding of any changes we may need to make in our policies and practices.
We understand this is causing confusion and trepidation with you and many of our colleagues. Our door is always open, and we encourage you to reach out with what you are hearing and tell us how changes are impacting you and your colleagues. Our team will always advocate in support of Duke Health, its priorities, and its people.
Confirming the nominees
As with the beginning of any new administration, the focus of the Senate this past week has been on confirming the new president’s cabinet nominees. As of this writing, hearings have occurred for several of the nominees, but only former Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) has been confirmed as the new Secretary of State and John Ratcliffe as CIA Director. The Senate is planning to vote on several other nominations later today and into tomorrow.
The Senate Finance Committee scheduled its confirmation hearing on Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary nominee Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. for January 29, while the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee is scheduled to hold its hearing the following day. Over the past few weeks, Kennedy has met with Senators from both parties to gain support for his nomination, but the hearings will be the first public consideration of the nominee. The Finance Committee, which has primary jurisdiction over the nomination of HHS Secretaries, will schedule an executive session meeting following the hearing to vote on the nominee.
What’s up NC delegation?
Rep. Deborah Ross (D-NC-02) has been named one of the Policy Co-Chairs of the Democratic Women’s Caucus (DWC), which aims to “elevate the voices – and advocate for the interests – of women and girls in America.”
In addition to the House Financial Services Committee, Rep. Tim Moore (R-NC-14) was appointed to the House Budget Committee.
From our desks
Our team met with government relations colleagues at the American Hospital Association (AHA), American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), and the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC) to share information about the new administration’s policy priorities and determine advocacy efforts moving forward.
Our office hosted a meeting with several of our Duke Health experts on artificial intelligence (AI) and staff for Rep. Deborah Ross (D-NC-02). Rep. Ross is interested in the use of AI in clinical trials and the role of medical research institutions, like Duke Health, moving forward.
Join the Duke Health Advocacy Network!
Looking to connect with fellow advocates and professionals interested in public policy across the health system? Join the Duke Health Advocacy Teams Channel! We’re eager for you to join us!
Managed and moderated by Duke Health Government Relations and Duke State Relations, the platform aims to connect colleagues throughout the health system who are engaged and/or interested in public policy advocacy. We hope the channel will be used as a space for sharing ideas, collaboration, and engaging with the government relations teams on the issues most important to your work.
We will post relevant news items, policy updates, questions, advocacy resources, and opportunities for engagement. As importantly, this is your space to do the same and to help grow the community.
(Note: This is only open to Duke Health employees. By joining this Teams channel, you acknowledge that the platform and your participation are intended for information sharing and connections/relationship building and is not an inducement by Duke Health Government Relations and Duke State Relations, or the channel’s participants, to act as an unauthorized advocacy and/or lobbying representative of Duke Health or Duke University).
