Nina Belforte

Federal policies shape the environments that determine whether people and communities can live healthy lives. Since Donald Trump took office for his second term as president on January 20, 2025, he has signed a series of Executive Orders (EOs), many of which impact public health. The Network has created an EO tracker which compiles the 2025 EOs most relevant to the public health space through a lens of Health in All Policies (HiAP). Inclusion in this tracker is not exhaustive, and content may be updated or revised as additional Executive Orders are issued or identified.

In recognition of International Overdose Awareness Day on August 31, 2025, Network attorneys and staff have identified seven policies with the potential to improve overdose prevention and advance the health of people who use drugs across the United States. This policy brief covers a wide range of areas, including well known, evidence-based harm reduction strategies and frameworks, as well as more novel policies that intersect climate change and drug policy. 

Community adaptation is a process communities utilize to lessen the impacts of climate change locally. Community adaptation policies provide cooling and shade, reduce air and water pollution, mitigate the effects of flooding, and reduce health disparities. Implementing effective community adaptation policies that center health equity involves more than public health departments – it involves housing, energy, transportation, parks and recreation, and other agencies, with community engagement in each step of the process. Community adaptation will continue to be critical to ameliorating the health impacts of climate change and combatting environmental injustices.

The University of Louisville’s Green Heart Project found that living in or around green canopy enhanced cardiovascular health. Beyond the findings related to cardiovascular health, the project provides strong support for the positive impacts of urban greening and highlights the role that environmental interventions can play in fostering healthier, more resilient communities.