Trump seeks to cut drug prices via executive order
The president's order tells pharmaceutical companies to lower prescription drug prices, but it will likely be thrown out by the courts


What happened
President Donald Trump Monday signed an executive order aimed at persuading pharmaceutical companies to lower the prices of U.S. prescription drugs. Trump's order gives companies a 30-day deadline to start voluntarily lowering prices or face potential consequences.
Who said what
The White House "teased the announcement as seismic," but Trump's order lacks "teeth" and "cites no obvious legal authority to mandate lower prices," The New York Times said. It was "something of a win" for drugmakers, which had been "bracing" for a "much more damaging" policy. "Far from demonizing pharmaceutical companies for high prices," The Washington Post said, Trump "focused his fire" on European countries "for negotiating drug prices so low" the U.S. picks up the "costs of innovation."
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said while he agreed with Trump that U.S. drug prices are "an outrage," the problem was not that prices are "too low in Europe and Canada" but that the "extraordinarily greedy pharmaceutical industry" is "ripping off the American people." Besides, he added, "as Trump well knows, his executive order will be thrown out by the courts."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
What next?
If drug companies do not lower their prices, Trump's order directs Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to develop a new rule that "ties the price the U.S. pays for medications to lower prices paid by other countries," said The Associated Press.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Flying into danger
Feature America's air traffic control system is in crisis. Can it be fixed?
-
Pocket change: The demise of the penny
Feature The penny is being phased out as the Treasury plans to halt production by 2026
-
Time's up: The Democratic gerontocracy
Feature The Democratic party is losing key seats as they refuse to retire aging leaders
-
The New World screwworm is making a deadly comeback
The explainer The parasite is spreading quickly
-
RFK Jr. scraps Covid shots for pregnant women, kids
Speed Read The Health Secretary announced a policy change without informing CDC officials
-
New FDA chiefs limit Covid-19 shots to elderly, sick
speed read The FDA set stricter approval standards for booster shots
-
US overdose deaths plunged 27% last year
speed read Drug overdose still 'remains the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18-44,' said the CDC
-
The Y chromosome degrades over time. And men's health is paying for it
Under the radar The chromosome loss is linked to cancer and Alzheimer's
-
A bacterial toxin could be contributing to the colorectal cancer rise in young people
Under the radar Most exposure occurs in childhood
-
RFK Jr.'s focus on autism draws the ire of researchers
In the Spotlight Many of Kennedy's assertions have been condemned by experts and advocates
-
Protein obsession is oversaturating the health food space
Under the Radar Some experts say that fiber is now the most important macro to focus on