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Business & Finance · October 19, 2026

Trump launches women's health division within NIH alongside Melania Trump

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President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday establishing a new Women’s Health Division within the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and a White House task force co-chaired by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The initiative, spearheaded by First Lady Melania Trump, aims to advance research into diseases that disproportionately or uniquely affect women, such as heart disease and Alzheimer's, while utilizing artificial intelligence for medical discovery. The order simultaneously revokes a 2024 executive order issued by former President Joe Biden that focused on health disparities. While the administration frames the move as a historic first, the NIH already allocates approximately 10% of its budget to women's health research.

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Reported by multiple outlets

  • President Trump signed an executive order creating a Women’s Health Division within the NIH.
  • First Lady Melania Trump was the primary driver of the initiative and spoke at the Rose Garden signing event.
  • A White House task force on women's health was established, co-chaired by Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
  • The initiative emphasizes using technology and AI to study diseases affecting women.
  • The executive order revokes a previous 2024 order by Joe Biden regarding women's health research.

Reported by only some outlets

  • The NIH currently spends about $5 billion (10%) of its annual budget on women's health research.
  • The task force is co-chaired by White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.
  • Trump's approval rating among women was reported at 29% in August 2026.
  • The administration briefly slashed then restored funding for the Women’s Health Initiative in April 2025.
  • The new division targets specific conditions including endometriosis, PMOS, and infertility.

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