Delivering Emergency Price Relief for American Families and Defeating the Cost-of-Living Crisis
January 20, 2025
Action Summary
- Policy Context: Criticizes Biden Administration’s policies for causing historic inflation through excessive spending, regulatory burdens, and interventions that disrupted American production.
- Impact on American Families: Highlights soaring costs in fuel, food, housing, automobiles, medical care, utilities, and insurance—estimating an extra burden of nearly $50,000 per household compared to an $11,000 reduction under the previous administration.
- Energy and Transportation: Points to illegal and unnecessary regulatory demands on American energy, contributing to increased transportation and manufacturing costs, as well as artificially inflated vehicle prices through a push for electric vehicles.
- Housing Costs: Details how regulatory requirements are responsible for about 25% of new home construction costs, exacerbating housing affordability issues.
- Directive for Emergency Action: Orders all executive departments and agencies to implement emergency price relief measures to restore purchasing power, including:
- Lowering housing costs and increasing housing supply.
- Eliminating unnecessary administrative expenses and rent-seeking practices that drive up healthcare costs.
- Removing counterproductive requirements impacting the cost of home appliances.
- Creating employment opportunities and reintegrating discouraged workers into the labor force.
- Eliminating harmful “climate” policies that contribute to elevated food and fuel costs.
- Reporting Requirements: Mandates that the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy report on the implementation status within 30 days, and then every 30 days thereafter.
Risks & Considerations
- The Executive Order’s focus on reducing regulatory burdens and costs could lead to significant changes in federal policies that impact various sectors, including energy, housing, and healthcare. This may result in shifts in funding priorities and regulatory compliance requirements that could affect Vanderbilt University’s operations and strategic planning.
- The emphasis on eliminating “climate” policies perceived as harmful could impact research funding and initiatives related to environmental sustainability and climate change, areas where Vanderbilt may have ongoing projects or interests.
- Changes in housing policies aimed at reducing costs and expanding supply could influence the local housing market, potentially affecting the availability and affordability of housing for students, faculty, and staff.
- The directive to create employment opportunities and draw discouraged workers into the labor force may lead to changes in labor market dynamics, which could impact Vanderbilt’s hiring practices and workforce development programs.
Impacted Programs
- Vanderbilt’s Research Centers focused on energy, environment, and sustainability may need to reassess their research agendas and funding strategies in response to shifts in federal priorities and potential reductions in climate-related funding.
- The Office of Financial Aid might need to consider adjustments in response to changes in the cost of living and housing affordability, which could affect students’ financial needs and aid packages.
- Vanderbilt’s Public Policy Studies programs may see increased demand for expertise in regulatory analysis and economic policy, presenting opportunities for curriculum development and partnerships with government agencies.
- The Human Resources Department may need to adapt recruitment and retention strategies in response to changes in the labor market and employment policies.
Financial Impact
- Potential changes in federal funding priorities could impact Vanderbilt’s research funding landscape, particularly in areas related to energy and climate policy. This may necessitate adjustments in grant application strategies and collaborations.
- Efforts to reduce regulatory costs and expand housing supply could influence the local economy and housing market, potentially affecting Vanderbilt’s real estate investments and campus development plans.
- Changes in healthcare cost structures and administrative expenses could impact Vanderbilt’s healthcare-related programs and partnerships, requiring strategic adjustments to align with new policies.
- The focus on increasing employment opportunities may lead to shifts in workforce development funding and initiatives, which could present opportunities for Vanderbilt to expand its role in workforce training and education.
Relevance Score: 4 (The order presents a need for potential major changes or transformations of programs.)
Key Actions
- Vanderbilt’s Economic Research Department should analyze the potential impacts of the executive order on local and national economic conditions, particularly focusing on housing, healthcare, and energy sectors. This analysis can guide the university in adjusting its economic models and forecasts.
- The Office of Federal Relations should engage with policymakers to understand the implications of the order on regulatory changes, especially those affecting housing and energy. This engagement can help Vanderbilt anticipate and adapt to policy shifts that may impact its operations and strategic planning.
- Vanderbilt’s Sustainability and Environmental Management Office should assess the potential effects of eliminating “climate” policies on the university’s sustainability initiatives. This assessment will be crucial in maintaining Vanderbilt’s commitment to environmental responsibility while aligning with new federal directives.
- The School of Medicine should explore opportunities to reduce administrative expenses and improve healthcare delivery in response to the order’s focus on lowering healthcare costs. This could involve streamlining processes and adopting innovative healthcare solutions.
Opportunities
- The executive order presents an opportunity for Vanderbilt’s Real Estate Department to explore partnerships and initiatives aimed at expanding housing supply and reducing construction costs. By leveraging its expertise, Vanderbilt can contribute to addressing housing affordability challenges.
- Vanderbilt can capitalize on the focus on creating employment opportunities by developing programs that support workforce development and training. This could include partnerships with local industries and government agencies to enhance job readiness and employment prospects for students and the community.
- The emphasis on reducing healthcare costs offers an opportunity for Vanderbilt’s Health Policy Center to engage in policy analysis and advocacy. By providing evidence-based recommendations, the center can influence how healthcare reforms are implemented to benefit the community.
- By engaging with the broader economic and policy community, Vanderbilt can position itself as a leader in the national conversation on economic reform. Hosting conferences, workshops, and public forums on the implications of the executive order can further establish Vanderbilt as a hub for innovative economic thought and practice.
Relevance Score: 4 (The order presents the potential for major process changes required for Vanderbilt’s programs due to impacts on housing, healthcare, and energy sectors.)
Timeline for Implementation
- Within 30 days of the memorandum: Initial report from the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy.
- Every 30 days thereafter: Ongoing status reporting on the implementation progress.
Relevance Score: 4
Impacted Government Organizations
- All Executive Departments and Agencies: The order mandates that the heads of every executive department and agency implement measures for emergency price relief, thereby impacting the entire executive branch including key agencies such as those overseeing energy, housing, transportation, healthcare, commerce, labor, and environmental policies.
Relevance Score: 5 (This order applies broadly across the entire executive branch, impacting a wide range of government agencies.)
Responsible Officials
- Heads of all Executive Departments and Agencies – Ordered to implement emergency price relief measures including lowering the cost of housing, reducing healthcare costs, and eliminating counterproductive “climate” policies.
- Assistant to the President for Economic Policy – Tasked with providing an initial report within 30 days and subsequent 30-day status updates on the implementation of the directives.
Relevance Score: 5 (Directives affect both high-level agency heads and a key White House official, significantly impacting executive leadership.)