AOTA's approach to advocacy with a new Congress and Administration
This article was updated at 10:56 am ET on February 4, 2025.
At the start of every new Congress and Presidential Administration, the job of the AOTA Federal Affairs Team is to understand the priorities of the new Congress and Administration and to identify possible opportunities and challenges for the occupational therapy profession. The first few months are often chaotic, especially when there is a new administration, as policy makers establish their priorities for the next two years. When determining AOTA’s federal advocacy agenda, we consider factors such as a policy’s impact on the profession of occupational therapy and access to OT services, the full scope of occupational therapy practice as outlined in the official documents approved by the Representative Assembly, and the strategic priorities approved by the AOTA Board of Directors.
For the 119th Congress, we see possible opportunities in several issues impacting occupational therapy such as telehealth, mental health, and improvements to the Medicare Part B payment system, as Congressional leadership has mentioned these as issues they would like to tackle over the next two years. We also anticipate potential challenges in areas such as Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act, as payments and subsidies to states for these programs are frequently mentioned as areas for potential cost savings. We will also be tracking legislation and proposals related to K-12 education, higher education (including loan and grant programs), research and more.
Presidents use Executive Orders (EOs) and Presidential Actions/Memos to communicate how they want agencies to carry out existing laws previously enacted by Congress. These documents outline what actions the President wants executive branch agencies to take, stop taking, and what areas of focus are the most important to the Administration. The current Administration has expanded the volume and scope of Presidential actions and AOTA has been tracking them closely. We are currently working with coalition partners, Congressional contacts, and other experts to understand how these Presidential actions will shift key agencies’ policies and regulations, and the possible impact on the occupational therapy profession.
Of particular note, a memo issued from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on Monday, January 27th required federal agencies to “temporarily pause all activities related to obligation or disbursement of all Federal financial assistance,” which resulted in the funding for many government programs and grants to be frozen. This memo was rescinded on the following Wednesday, and two courts have reviewed cases related to the funding. While the memo has been rescinded, federal agencies have been asked to review how their spending interacts with the President’s EOs, including the EO ending federal Diversity Equity and Inclusion policies and programs.
We are working to seek clarification from OMB on the status of grants and other federal funding while these reviews are completed, and the process and timeline for review. Currently, there is a pause on regulatory and rulemaking process as well as all external communications from executive branch agencies, making it more difficult for AOTA to learn further information from our usual sources.
If you currently receive federal funding, and have been impacted by this pause, we encourage you to contact your Representative or Senators through their local office to request assistance. An important Congressional duty is to conduct casework on behalf of constituents who are experiencing difficulties with an executive branch agency. More information on this process is available at AOTA’s Legislative Action Center.
After the communications freeze with federal branch agencies has ended, and after the Senate has confirmed key nominees at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Department of Education, and other agencies, AOTA will have a clearer understanding of the opportunities and challenges we can anticipate from the new Administration.