Trump signs an order aimed at boosting women's health research, a plan
backed by the first lady
[October 20, 2026]
By BILL BARROW and COLLIN BINKLEY
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Monday directed the federal
government to bolster federal research into women's health through all
stages of their lives, a move pushed by his wife, first lady Melania
Trump.
The Republican president signed an executive order creating a Women’s
Health Division at the National Institutes of Health and a separate
White House Women's Health Task Force. The panel was set to hold its
first meeting on Monday.
“Beginning today we will change the reality of women’s health,” Melania
Trump said. “Previous generations fought for women’s rights. Our
generation will fight to discover the cures that will ensure a woman can
live her life in health and to the fullest.”
The president spoke after his wife and said the order will “promote new
research and really go after the understudied diseases affecting women.”
The order is also intended to promote diagnostic technology and improve
treatment.
White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, who recently completed treatment
for breast cancer, and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F.
Kennedy Jr. will lead the White House task force. Donald Trump said the
panel will coordinate with various federal agencies and programs. The
order does not include specific funding goals.
Trumps want more research into key areas of women's health
The initiative follows meetings the first lady had with the president,
Kennedy and other federal health officials to help shape the order and
the task force.
The president called it a "historic action” and praised her work.
“She’s accomplished so much,” he said before pivoting into unscripted
commentary about White House renovations, including the patio stone now
covering what used to be the Rose Garden lawn.
Shifting back to women's health, the president expressed surprise that
some of the order's requirements had not already been imposed.
“Who the hell wouldn't have a women's health division?” he said, after
recalling that he'd asked Melania Trump, “Are you sure they don't have
that?”
The NIH has an Office of Research on Women’s Health, established in 1990
to advance understanding of the biological and social factors that
influence women's health and disease, according to its website.
A goal of the new Women's Health Division is to improve the government's
ability to coordinate research, according to a fact sheet distributed by
the White House.
The executive order signed Monday calls for more research into key areas
of women's health, including maternal health, mental health,
endometriosis, infertility, fibroids and menopause. It also mentions
other health concerns, including Alzheimer’s and heart disease,
osteoporosis and stroke.
Women more likely to focus on health issues
The White House announcement comes about two weeks before Nov. 3
elections and as Donald Trump’s job approval ratings have declined.
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First lady Melania Trump speaks during an event about women's
health, in the Rose Garden of the White House, Monday, Oct. 19,
2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
 About one-third of women now approve
of how Trump is handling the presidency, according to recent AP-NORC
polling. About two-thirds of women disapproved of how Trump was
handing healthcare issues in a July AP-NORC poll.
An AP-NORC poll conducted earlier in October found women more likely
than men to say healthcare is “one of the most important issues” in
the upcoming election.
It was unclear whether Trump's order conflicts with his earlier
executive actions curtailing federal programs and policies with a
focus on diversity, equity and inclusion.
The administration’s broad cuts to scientific research have included
studies focusing on women as it continues to eliminate grants with a
“DEI” or diversity focus. Last year, the administration announced
that the long-running Women’s Health Initiative, a study of
preventive health strategies, would be closed early before abruptly
reversing that decision amid protest.
Trump order cancels Biden action on women's health
In 2023, the administration of Democratic President Joe Biden signed
an executive order as he announced a White House initiative to
improve how the federal government approaches and funds research
into the health of women, who make up more than half the U.S.
population. The initiative was led by first lady Jill Biden.
Before leaving the White House, the Bidens highlighted Jill Biden’s
effort and said the research initiative had attracted nearly $1
billion in federal funding, including from the Defense Department
and NIH.
Trump's executive order rescinded the Biden effort.
The Trump White House said the steps announced Monday go beyond what
was accomplished under Biden, citing the planned use of artificial
intelligence, which Trump calls “super intelligence,” and creating a
government-wide task force rather than having the first lady lead
the initiative.
Melania Trump expands her portfolio
The initiative adds a new dimension to Melania Trump’s policy
portfolio as first lady.
In Donald Trump's second term, Melania Trump has focused on
improving foster care systems, expanding technology and
artificial-intelligence access in education, and reuniting children
separated from their families by Russia's war against Ukraine.
In Trump's first presidency, the first lady's signature initiative,
Be Best, focused on child well-being, safe social media use and
reducing drug abuse.
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Barrow reported from Atlanta. AP Medical Writer Lauran Neergaard and
Associated Press writers Linley Sanders and Darlene Superville in
Washington contributed to this report.
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