President Trump’s second term began with a series of executive orders that immediately impacted the meetings industry.
On Inauguration Day, January 20, Trump signed the Executive Order, “Ending Radical And Wasteful Government DEI Programs And Preferencing.” It eliminates federal diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. All federal DEI staff were also placed on leave.
Federal agencies responded by canceling or scaling back DEI-related events. They include trainings, conferences, and observances of cultural heritage months.
Corporations quickly followed suit. Many pulled back from public DEI commitments and events to avoid regulatory scrutiny or loss of federal business.
Another Trump order directed federal agencies to define gender as strictly male or female. This move created legal and logistical hurdles for Pride events and inclusion-focused conferences.
“The past 100 days haven’t just been about one executive order. They’ve unleashed a wave of presidential actions, many cloaked in coded language, aimed at sowing division, exclusion, and historical inequity,” said Rhonda Payne, founder and CEO of the Flock Theory, a consultancy specializing in workforce development, learning, and events. “But there’s a counterintuitive truth emerging. This political overreach is actually strengthening the core of DEI. It’s revealing who was only ever surface-deep, and who is committed to the real work.”
Medical Meetings Face Disruption
The Trump administration has implemented or attempted freezes on federal grants and loans, including those supporting healthcare research and scientific meetings. Although some freezes faced legal challenges and were temporarily blocked, the administration has signaled an ongoing intent to review and potentially reduce federal spending on research and medical conferences.
Cuts or uncertainty in funding from agencies like the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and FDA are leading to fewer sponsored medical meetings, reduced event budgets, and less support for travel and participation, especially for early-career researchers and those from underrepresented groups
Medical and scientific meeting planners are dealing with a new landscape where access, funding, and conference attendance are no longer guaranteed, said Pat Schaumann, president of Schaumann Consulting Group, who is also the director of Meeting Professional International’s Healthcare Meeting Compliance Certificate (HMCC) program.
Cancellations Mount
The Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau in Rhode Island received its first meeting cancellation on January 27. The conference, focused on renewable offshore wind energy, included 3,300 room nights and was expected to bring $1.8 million in direct spending.
Three more cancellations, including a conference focused on veteran affairs and another for the IRS. These groups represent $2.4 million in direct spend and 5,235 lost room nights.
Brett Sterenson, president of Hotel Lobbyists, a site-selection company that works mainly with government events, has had 58 cancellations, representing $2.5 million in lost hotel revenues.
“In recent days, while the cancellations have slowed, possibly because there’s little left to cancel, the new bookings are small and extremely last minute. They don’t come close to replacing the mass cancellation, but at a very minimum, there’s a sign of life,” said Sterenson.
Trump’s Tariffs Drive Up Event Costs
On March 4, a 25% tariff on goods from Mexico and Canada took effect, prompting Canada to retaliate with tariffs on U.S. imports, including steel and aluminum products, produce, appliances, and liquor.
The tariffs have increased costs for essential materials. Including exhibition booths, stages, and audiovisual equipment, squeezing organizer and exhibitor budgets.
The promotional products industry has been particularly hard hit. A 31-year-old promotional product supplier has had to furlough its 70 employees.
Planners are now including stipulations in their contracts to mitigate the impact.
Uncertainty Clouds Future
Geopolitical tensions, shifting policies, and economic volatility have created uncertainty. Event professionals say clients are hesitant to commit. Contracting timelines are growing. And long-term planning is extremely challenging.
At the same time, Trump’s renewed focus on restrictive immigration ais hitting meetings and conventions hard. Heightened visa scrutiny, more paperwork, and slower processing times have made it harder for international attendees to enter the U.S.
Heightened visa scrutiny, increased documentation requirements, and extended processing times are making it more difficult for international delegates to secure entry to the U.S.
As a result, some groups are moving U.S.-based events to other parts of the world.
Incentive industry leaders are uncertain not just about destination decisions but about whether some of their clients’ programs will take place at all.
