President Donald Trump signed an executive order Monday that will create a new Women’s Health Division within the National Institutes of Health, as well as a White House task force dedicated to improving women’s health in the U.S.
First Lady Melania Trump introduced the executive order at a White House Rose Garden event Monday, echoing concerns previously raised by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. that women’s health issues have historically received less attention and fewer resources than men’s health in the U.S.
The order makes a similar argument.
“Despite considerable advances in biomedical science, many diseases and conditions that disproportionately or uniquely affect women have not received the level of research, clinical attention, and treatment that other diseases and conditions have received,” the order states.
The Women’s Health Division will work with the National Institutes of Health and other federal partners to expand research into women’s health conditions, improve diagnosis and treatment, increase women’s participation in clinical trials, strengthen research standards and help translate scientific findings into clinical practice.
The task force, which Kennedy will chair, will also include other cabinet members – the secretaries of Agriculture, Education, Labor, Veterans Affairs and War – and others to coordinate an “all-of-government” approach to improving women’s health.
The task force will coordinate federal efforts to improve women’s health at every stage of life by advancing research, accelerating the development of new treatments, improving preventive care and supporting policy and regulatory reforms. It will also work with state and local governments, health care providers and other stakeholders to incorporate scientific advances into clinical practice and improve long-term health outcomes for women and girls. HHS will fund the task force’s administrative costs.
Administration officials did not provide an estimate for the cost of creating the new division or HHS’ plans to fund it within their announcements or in response to requests from The Center Square in time for publication Monday.
The order also rescinds a 2024 executive order from former President Joe Biden aimed at advancing women’s health research, along with a 2023 memorandum establishing a White House initiative on the issue.
