President Donald Trump is once again taking decisive steps to tackle one of America’s most frustrating issues: sky-high prescription drug prices. On Monday, he signed an executive order aimed at cutting costs, picking up where his first term left off, and signaling a serious shakeup for Big Pharma.
Why are U.S. drug prices so out of control? Unlike other developed nations with centralized healthcare systems, the U.S. lacks a unified negotiator for prescription prices. That gives pharmaceutical giants free rein to set sky-high prices, leaving everyday Americans paying nearly three times more for medication than people in countries like France or Germany. Just look at insulin: about $100 per month here, compared to $10 abroad.
Trump’s approach? Go after the real problem—the middlemen. Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs), the so-called “negotiators,” are often pocketing massive rebates and pushing up prices behind the scenes. The FTC confirmed in 2024 that these PBMs were jacking up costs on life-saving drugs, from cancer treatments to heart meds—sometimes by thousands of percent.
While critics claim change can only come through Congress, Trump has never been one to wait for bureaucracy. During his first term, he attempted a similar reform, which the courts blocked but did not forget. Now he’s back, with stronger support and a clearer target.
Pharma lobbyists won’t give up without a fight. But Trump is again proving that he’s willing to challenge the swamp and put patients before profits. And that’s exactly what America needs.
