House Speaker Paul Ryan released a statement Monday applauding President Donald Trump's first executive actions that fulfilled campaign promises.
Trump's executive orders Monday included:
- Instituting a federal hiring freeze.
- Banning non-governmental organizations that receive federal funding from providing abortions abroad.
- Formally withdrawing the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal.
"President Trump is wasting no time acting on his promises," Ryan said.
"Already, he has laid the groundwork to protect Americans struggling under Obamacare. He has renewed President [Ronald] Reagan's policy to ensure American taxpayers are not forced to subsidize abortions anywhere in the world.
"He has followed through on his promise to insist on better trade agreements. And by instituting a hiring freeze, he has taken a critical first step toward reining in Washington bureaucracy. We look forward to working with the president to build on these actions and deliver results for the people."
Republican Sen. Susan Collins, however, called Trump's order on Obamacare "very confusing."
"We really don't know yet what the impact (of the order) will be. We need legislation," Collins said. "There are some improvements that can be made through the executive order, and through the regulatory process, but that by no means takes away the need for comprehensive legislation."
And Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain released a statement saying it's a serious mistake to pull out of TPP.
"President Trump's decision to formally withdraw from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is a serious mistake that will have lasting consequences for America's economy and our strategic position in the Asia-Pacific region," McCain said.
But Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders applauded the move to pull out of TPP.
"Now is the time to develop a new trade policy that helps working families, not just multi-national corporations," Sanders said in a statement. "If President Trump is serious about a new policy to help American workers, then I would be delighted to work with him."
Trump's order on NGOs earned an expected rebuke from Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood.
And NARAL Pro-Choice America condemned the move as well.
"Donald Trump has turned his anti-women rhetoric into policy, and made it more difficult for women and families all over the world to access vital reproductive care. He really is living up to the lowest of expectations," NARAL President Ilyse Hogue said in a statement.