BY LYDIA WHEELER – 01/20/17 08:45 PM EST
President Trump’s chief of staff Reince Priebus issued a memo Friday night telling federal agencies to not issue any more regulations.
Hours after his boss was sworn into office, Priebus told the agencies not to send any regulation to the Federal Register until the rule is reviewed and approved by the new president’s appointed agency head.
Any rule that’s already been sent to the Office of the Federal Register, but not yet published, must be withdrawn, the order says. For rules that were published in the last 60 days, Priebus told agencies to publish a notice to delay the effective date of the rule for at least another 60 days.
The memo is careful to exclude any rule that’s in response to an emergency situation or other urgent circumstances relating to health, safety, financial or national security matters.
If the rule raises any substantial questions of law or policy after it’s delay, however, Priebus told the agencies to notify the director of the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and take further appropriate action in consultation with the OMB director.
The letter from Priebus is not uncommon.
When President Obama took office on Jan. 20, 2009, he too had his chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, send a letter to the federal agencies telling them to refrain from sending any new or proposed rules to the Federal Register.
The agencies were also told then to withdraw any rulemakings that had not yet been published and consider extending by 60 days the effective date of those rules that had already been published. 
BY JORDAN FABIAN – 01/20/17 07:26 PM EST
President Trump on Friday signed an executive order directing federal agencies to “ease the burden of ObamaCare.”
Trump signed the order in front of reporters at the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office, one of his first official acts as president.
The order did not direct any specific actions, but instead gave broad authority to the Department of Health and Human Services and other agencies to take actions available to them under the law to ease regulatory requirements from ObamaCare.
It pushes agencies to target provisions that impose a “fiscal burden” on a state or a “cost” or “regulatory burden” on individuals or businesses.
It is not clear what practical effects will come from the order.
But the move could eat away at the law’s individual insurance mandate by granting more exemptions to people so they do not have to purchase plans.
Republicans have also said they want to loosen the rules around ObamaCare’s requirements on what healthcare services an insurance plan must cover.
Congressional action will be needed to make most major changes to the law.
Trump has made ObamaCare repeal a top priority during his campaign and transition period. He repeatedly pledged to begin rolling back the law on his first day in the White House.
The move came just hours after Trump took the oath of office at the Capitol. The president was flanked by Vice President Pence, chief of staff Reince Priebus and senior advisers Steve Bannon and Jared Kushner.
Congress has already taken its first steps toward repealing the law through the complex budget reconciliation process.
Using that process allows lawmakers to repeal central provisions of the law without the 60 votes needed to break a filibuster.
Trump’s order announces that “it is the policy of my administration to seek the prompt repeal” of ObamaCare, but says that in the interim, “it is imperative for the executive branch to ensure that the law is being efficiently implemented.”
In a separate move, Priebus signed a memo ordering a government-wide regulatory freeze until new Cabinet secretaries and agency heads are in place.
The move is standard practice for incoming administrations; former President
Barack Obama issued a similar order in 2009.
Trump also signed confirmation papers for his picks to run the departments of Defense and Homeland Security, retired Gens. James Mattis and John Kelly.
Both nominees were easily confirmed by the Senate on Friday evening and sworn in by Pence.
“I am pleased by the confirmation votes of Generals Mattis and Kelly,” Trump said in a paper statement.
“These uniquely qualified leaders will immediately begin the important work of rebuilding our military, defending our nation and securing our borders.”
Updated: 8:38 p.m.
Donald Trump, federal regulations, Office of Management and Budget, OMB, Reince Priebus
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