OZ.VGI.CO.ID - WASHINGTON, D.C. – October 19, 2026 – In a significant move aimed at bolstering the health and well-being of American women and girls, President Donald J. Trump, with prominent leadership and advocacy from First Lady Melania Trump, today signed a historic executive order titled "Advancing Women’s Health to Improve Outcomes in All Phases of Life." This directive mandates the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish a dedicated Women’s Health Division within the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The initiative seeks to deepen scientific understanding, expedite medical advancements, and ultimately enhance health outcomes for women across the nation.
Establishing a New Era for Women's Health Research
The executive order requires HHS, operating through the NIH, to establish the new Women's Health Division within a 90-day timeframe.
This division is tasked with working in conjunction with the existing NIH Office of Research on Women’s Health.
Its core objectives include advancing research into medical conditions that disproportionately or uniquely impact women, ensuring greater accountability in federally funded research endeavors, and accelerating the practical application of scientific discoveries into tangible prevention strategies, diagnostic tools, treatment protocols, and clinical care practices.
Coordinated Federal Efforts Through a New Task Force
Emphasizing First Lady Melania Trump’s deep-seated commitment to enhancing the lives of women and girls, the executive order also inaugurates the first-ever White House Women’s Health Task Force.
This influential body will be co-chaired by HHS Secretary Robert F.
Kennedy, Jr., and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.
Its mandate is to unify and coordinate federal initiatives focused on improving women's health throughout their entire lifespan, from infancy and adolescence, through reproductive years, midlife changes, menopause, and into healthy aging stages.
Secretary Kennedy Highlights Transformative Approach
HHS Secretary Robert F.
Kennedy, Jr., underscored the transformative nature of this initiative, stating, "President Trump is transforming how our nation approaches women’s health by making it a priority across every stage of life.
First Lady Melania Trump’s leadership was instrumental in making this executive order a reality, with strong support from my co-chair, Susie Wiles." He further elaborated on the long-standing need for more research, adding, "For generations, women have faced unanswered questions about conditions that uniquely or disproportionately affect them.
This new NIH division will confront those questions with gold-standard science, accelerate research into prevention and treatment, and turn medical discoveries into better care for women and girls across America."
Scope of Research and Objectives for the New Division
The newly formed NIH Women’s Health Division is poised to undertake research into a broad spectrum of conditions critical to women's health.
This includes, but is not limited to, cardiovascular disease, various cancers, autoimmune and inflammatory conditions, chronic pain, endometriosis, uterine fibroids, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), infertility, maternal health, menopause-related issues, Alzheimer's disease, and osteoporosis.
The division's operational goals encompass enhancing the scientific review of understudied women's health issues, promoting cutting-edge research technologies and personalized medicine approaches, fostering interdisciplinary research collaborations, deepening the understanding of sex-specific health outcomes, increasing the inclusion of women and girls in clinical trials, reinforcing NIH's mandate to consider sex as a biological variable in research, and facilitating the translation of scientific breakthroughs into improved clinical practice.
Voices of Experts on the Impact of the Executive Order
NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya expressed his optimism, stating, "Women deserve strong research that helps them and their doctors answer key health questions they face at every stage of life.
This new division will help close lingering evidence gaps, expand and maximize the impact of our research investments, and bring discoveries closer to patients." Echoing this sentiment, Dr.
Erica Schwartz, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), remarked, "Today, we’re ensuring women’s needs, experiences, and voices guide the care they receive at every stage of life.
This executive order will help us put proven interventions into practice, diagnose conditions earlier, expand treatment options, and prevent disease."
Building on a Foundation of Prior Women's Health Initiatives
This executive order represents a significant continuation and expansion of efforts undertaken by HHS since January 2025.
These previous actions have aimed to shift women's healthcare from a siloed, condition-specific approach towards a comprehensive, whole-person model grounded in prevention, understanding root causes, rigorous scientific inquiry, and empowering informed decision-making.
Key developments include the expansion of women's health research at NIH, focusing on areas such as midlife health, maternal health, autoimmune diseases, endometriosis, infertility, and sex-specific health differences.
The modernization of menopause care has also been a priority, with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) initiating the removal of broad boxed warnings from hormone replacement therapy products and HHS collaborating with professional medical associations to promote evidence-based local estrogen therapy for postmenopausal women.
Furthermore, two new drugs were approved to offer expanded treatment options for menopausal symptoms, including a generic version of Premarin (conjugated estrogens) and a non-hormonal treatment for vasomotor symptoms like hot flashes.
Key Past Initiatives in Women's Health
Further bolstering women's health, HHS launched the Breast Cancer Screening and Diagnostic Follow-up Initiative, which includes a collaborative effort and a national analysis of screening patterns and outcomes.
The Infertility Initiative was also established to analyze health data and track the impact of infertility on maternal-infant health.
Efforts to strengthen fertility and reproductive health have included launching a national training center and establishing a new reproductive health Center of Excellence.
A groundbreaking pathway for fertility benefits was proposed, focusing on prevention, underlying causes, education, medical management, and male-factor infertility.
Significant investments were made in maternal and preventive health, including the launch of Moms.gov, advancing the HHS Perinatal Improvement Collaborative, allocating over $525 million to evidence-based home visiting services, and proposing updated cervical cancer screening guidelines that incorporate a self-collection option.
In March 2026, HHS also hosted the inaugural National Conference on Women’s Health, bringing together diverse stakeholders to identify practical solutions for existing research and care gaps.
These collective actions underscore a comprehensive strategy by the Trump Administration, building upon First Lady Melania Trump’s dedication to advancing women’s health across the entire lifespan.
The focus remains on developing a robust evidence base, translating research into clinical practice, prioritizing disease prevention, and equipping women and their healthcare providers with better information for informed choices.
Under President Trump’s leadership and First Lady Melania Trump’s ongoing commitment, HHS continues to champion high-standard scientific research, aiming to ensure American women benefit from leading innovation, prevention strategies, and healthcare services globally.
For media inquiries, please submit a request for comment.
Sign up to receive press releases.
Related HHS Press Releases:
- HHS Launches Health Center Healthy Lifestyle Commitment to Advance Nutrition, Prevention, and Healthy Living (October 14, 2026)
- FDA Launches the Rare Disease Framework Initiative to Develop a Holistic, Fit-For-Purpose Framework for Rare Disease Drug Development (October 14, 2026)
- Trump Administration Delivers Second Year of Savings by Stopping Taxpayer Payments for Duplicate and Deceased Enrollees in Obamacare (October 14, 2026)
Comments