WASHINGTON _ President Donald Trump took a symbolic step aimed at his predecessor's signature achievement Friday night, directing federal agencies to take steps to "ease the burden of Obamacare."
Trump signed the executive order during his first public appearance in the Oval Office. The White House did not immediately provide details about the order, which it characterized as a precursor to the Republican efforts to "repeal and replace" the Affordable Care Act.
Also Friday, new White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus issued a memo directing federal agencies to place an immediate freeze on new regulations, a common directive when party control of the executive branch changes.
Trump also signed paperwork paving the way for James Mattis and John Kelly to be sworn in to their new posts as secretary of defense and homeland Security respectively, hours after the Senate voted to confirm them. Vice President Mike Pence swore in both men shortly after.
The hastily arranged appearances came just before Trump and Pence were due to travel to inaugural balls, after they watched the inaugural parade in front of the White House.
The Oval Office itself Friday bore signs of change: gone was the bust of Rev. Martin Luther King III opposite the Resolute Desk, replaced by one of former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. Copper-toned drapes installed during an Obama redecoration of the Oval Office were gone, replaced by yellowish-gold ones.
