President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday directing federal agencies to pursue steps meant to reduce prescription drug prices, including costs for Medicare patients. The move is the latest in a series of White House efforts to confront long-running complaints about unaffordable medicines in the U.S.

According to Reuters, the order instructs agencies to examine ways to pressure down prices across the pharmaceutical market. The announcement comes as health-care costs remain a major political issue for older Americans and other patients who rely on regular prescriptions.

The executive action does not by itself guarantee immediate price cuts, and the details will depend on how agencies carry out the directive. Still, the administration is presenting the measure as part of a broader push to make medications more affordable for consumers and taxpayers.

Drug pricing has remained one of the most politically sensitive issues in U.S. health policy, with patients, employers, insurers, and lawmakers all facing pressure to address high out-of-pocket costs. The effectiveness of the new order will be judged by whether it leads to lower bills at the pharmacy counter.