Trump Signs Order to Expand IVF Access and Push for Government Transparency

Donald Trump signed an executive order focused on increasing access to in vitro fertilization (IVF) and lowering its costs, as well as a presidential memorandum urging greater transparency in government spending. The news comes amid the former president's renewed push for universal IVF coverage while Republican-held states increasingly curtail the procedure in the wake of the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade. Several states have tried to establish life as starting at conception, which creates questions regarding the legality of IVF procedures.

Addressing his Florida home and club, Mar-a-Lago, Trump also signed another executive order detailing the Office of Management and Budget's oversight roles, along with a memorandum demanding comprehensive reports on 'waste, fraud, and abuse' in government expenditures. These activities are part of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which is run by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, that seeks to make federal spending more efficient. In spite of the promises of transparency by the administration, DOGE has been the subject of criticism, with Musk responding to reporters' questions just once since assuming the position. Some DOGE employees have reportedly sought access to sensitive government databases without explanation.

In a lengthy press briefing, Trump answered questions on a variety of issues and took aim at the Biden administration on matters like border security, Venezuela policy, and the war in Ukraine. He hinted at having a 'good chance' of putting an end to Russia's war in Ukraine but brushed aside rumors of talks in progress with or without Ukraine's participation. In a contentious comment, he seemed to imply that Ukraine was at fault for the war, even though Russia invaded in 2022. "Today I heard, 'Well, we weren't invited.' Well, you've been there for three years", Trump said of the leaders of Ukraine. 'You should have never started it'.

Preparing for questions regarding his administration's budget-cutting efforts, Trump offered a list of government programs around the globe that he said totaled unnecessary expenditures. He specifically mentioned voter turnout funding programs in India and social cohesion projects in Mali as being fraudulent. When questioned regarding the White House court filing recently presented arguing that Musk was not officially heading the government efficiency initiative, Trump downplayed the issue. "You could refer to him as an employee, you could refer to him as a consultant, you could refer to him however you'd like. But he's a patriot," he said.

Trump made a defense of his IVF executive order by saying that 'women and families, husbands, are very appreciative' for the attempt at making fertility treatment more available. The process consists of taking a woman's eggs and fertilizing them in the lab before the embryo is put into the uterus, and the process takes more than one cycle to succeed. RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association president and CEO Barbara Collura said the effort was 'extremely promising', pointing out that the main obstacles to IVF are high out-of-pocket expenses and limited insurance coverage. Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth, however, slammed Trump's action, saying it does nothing to increase access to IVF and charges him with jeopardizing IVF in the first instance. She called on Trump to back her bill requiring insurance coverage for IVF if he was committed to keeping his campaign promises.

Trump had earlier in the day spent time at his West Palm Beach golf club before getting ready for a high-profile joint TV interview with Musk, which was broadcast on Fox News Channel. Trump admitted in the interview that 'inflation is back' but disassociated himself from it, saying he had only been president for a few weeks and could not be blamed for high prices. Musk, when questioned over possible conflicts of interest between his role in government and his business enterprises, asserted that he would recuse himself from any connected decisions.

Musk's strategy for federal belt-tightening, such as foreign aid reductions and government employee layoffs, has been criticized by Democrats in Congress. His latest meeting with Trump in the Oval Office had the two men explaining their plan to curtail federal spending. The partnership between the two has heightened speculation regarding Musk's increasing clout in the administration, with critics wondering whether his commercial interests would interfere with his government work.

Later the same evening, an awards ceremony put on by America's Future, a conservative group headed by former national security adviser Michael Flynn, was held at Mar-a-Lago. The event, designed to be a celebration of American values and traditions, recognized members of the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Space Force. Attendees at the ceremony were questionable characters like Russell Brand, Ted Nugent, and Mike Tyson, contributing to the circus of the evening.

Trump briefly appeared at the event, speaking to the crowd from the patio with Flynn, Tyson, and Nugent. In a social media video, Trump said, "This is very, very friendly territory". Trump also complimented Flynn, a central figure in Trump's attempts to reverse the 2020 election, saying he was 'the real deal' and that he might be brought back into the administration. "Anytime you want to come in, you know that, Mike, OK?" Trump said, referring to previous talks about hiring Flynn into some position.

Flynn, who had stepped down as national security adviser less than a month into Trump's first term, was indicted in 2017 for lying to the FBI regarding his contacts with Russian officials. He pleaded guilty twice before being pardoned by Trump in the last weeks of his presidency. In spite of the scandal surrounding him, Flynn remains a high-profile figure in Trump's political circle.

The night at Mar-a-Lago highlighted Trump's enduring hold on the conservative base, gathering a coalition of supporters, celebrities, and politicians into a celebration of policy, campaign messaging, and entertainment. The ex-president's initiative on IVF access, transparency in government, and spending cuts is consistent with his larger plan to build support while aggressively posturing against opponents. As his presidency continues, the success of these projects and the increasingly prominent role of players such as Musk and Flynn will continue to be hot topics of contention.