President Donald Trump on Monday signed an executive order establishing a new women’s health division within the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and launching a White House Women’s Health Task Force, with First Lady Melania Trump present at the Rose Garden ceremony.
The order directs the NIH to create a dedicated division focused on advancing research into conditions that disproportionately or uniquely affect women, including heart disease, cancer, chronic pain, and infertility. The new division will also aim to reduce the time between diagnosis and treatment for women’s health issues. The White House Women’s Health Task Force, chaired by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, will coordinate policy and regulatory reforms to support comprehensive women’s health initiatives from infancy through aging.
Melania Trump’s role and stated goals
First Lady Melania Trump, who was credited with conceiving the initiative, said the executive order would mark a transformative moment for women’s health in the U.S. During the announcement, she emphasized the need for research funding directed toward conditions that affect women disproportionately. She also highlighted the use of artificial intelligence to enhance understanding of female biology and accelerate medical discoveries. Melania Trump signed the executive order alongside the president, though her signature held no legal weight.
President Trump praised his wife’s leadership on the initiative, stating that she had pushed for the creation of a women’s health division after noting its absence. He also acknowledged White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, who recently completed treatment for breast cancer, calling her a "fantastic" fighter and crediting her with caring deeply about women’s health issues.
Structure and scope of the initiative
The executive order outlines five key objectives for the new women’s health division, including increasing scientific review of women’s health conditions, advancing research coordination, and accelerating the translation of findings into treatments. The task force, which held its first meeting on the same day, is tasked with pursuing a comprehensive approach to women’s health across all life stages, from childhood through menopause and aging.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said in a statement that the initiative would confront longstanding unanswered questions about conditions that uniquely or disproportionately affect women, using "gold-standard science" to accelerate prevention and treatment. The task force includes members from multiple federal agencies, such as the Departments of War, Agriculture, and Health and Human Services, as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Funding and implementation details
While the executive order establishes the framework for the new division and task force, the sources did not provide specific details on funding levels, timelines for implementation, or how the initiatives would address affordability of treatments. The announcement follows the White House’s recent emphasis on women’s health initiatives, including Melania Trump’s 2025 "Fostering the Future" child welfare program, which aimed to reduce homelessness and unemployment among young adults aging out of the foster care system.
The event drew attendance from prominent figures in the administration, including Second Lady Usha Vance, Arkansas Governor Sarah Sanders, and Cheryl Hines, wife of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The gathering underscored the administration’s focus on women’s health as a priority ahead of the midterm elections.