We recognize that this week’s presidential inauguration and the events and Executive Orders (EOs) during and after the inauguration of the 47th U.S. President are front of mind for everybody. ANA staff are actively reviewing the EOs issued by President Trump over his first days in office. While a range of the EOs may have impact on nursing and public health, we are particularly focused, at least initially, on the EOs related to withdrawing from the World Health Organization and banning DEI related activities within the federal government and from private entities receiving federal funding.
ANA has grave concerns about the impact of these EOs but is also assessing the most effective ways to express our concerns and challenge these executive actions. We are analyzing the language within the EOs to determine the best course of action, to not only express our concern, but to act on behalf of nurses and public health.
While the WHO EO is very concerning on multiple levels, there are several steps that must be taken to effect a withdrawal that will allow ANA the opportunity to engage in opposition to that proposed action, the EO related to DEI is having immediate effect within the federal government and directly on nurses working to advance diversity, equity and inclusion. Our first order of business is to address the most immediate challenges first while not taking our eyes off the other actions and activities critical to nurses.
ANA will reach out to Congress, including members of the Nursing Caucus and career staff within federal agencies to express our concern and support for efforts to mitigate the impact of the orders immediately and also over the course of the next few weeks as more information becomes available about their legality and any practical mechanisms to protect programs that are so important to the nursing profession, patients and our public health system as a whole.
ANA will not abandon our principles, nor our members directly and indirectly impacted by these orders. We will continue to champion diversity, equity, and inclusion and the foundational as well as practical pillars of public health because of how fundamentally important they are to us and our country.
Angela Beddoe
Chief Executive Officer