Donald Trump signed an executive order on October 19 to create a National Institutes of Health (NIH) division dedicated to women’s health. First Lady Melania Trump attended the signing ceremony alongside the president. Reports indicate that Melania pushed for the initiative and organized meetings with physicians.
Donald Trump proposes new NIH women’s health division and task force with Melania Trump involved
A post on X by The White House read, “President Donald J. Trump & First Lady Melania Trump sign an executive order creating a Women’s Health Division at the NIH & a White House Women’s Health Task Force, aiming to close research gaps & modernize care for women.”
The first lady opened the Rose Garden signing event with a speech, saying, as per USA Today, “Our mission must serve women at every stage of life, from young girls just starting out to mothers dealing with a complex range of responsibilities, to mature women who deserve to have vitality, dignity, and independence.” “In 2026, medical advances can do more than just prolong life. It should give women the freedom to live life to its fullest- to pursue our dreams, experience love, discover, create, travel, and lead,” she added.
Melania said the initiative aims to turn hardship and pain into scientific discoveries, effective treatments, and lasting cures. She added that women are resilient, capable, and deserve lives defined by the possibilities before them rather than the burdens they carry.
The initiative follows several meetings arranged by the first lady. She met with physicians and other experts from the public and private sectors. She also met with Health and Human Services officials to discuss setting up the task force. Trump’s Chief of Staff, Susie Wiles, will lead the task force with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Wiles has served as Trump’s White House chief of staff since the start of his second term. She recently spoke publicly about her breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. She first announced the diagnosis in mid-March.
