America’s ‘Ladki Bahin’? Ahead Of Midterms, Trump Signs Big Order For Women’s Health

WASHINGTON: Ahead of the crucial US midterm elections, President Donald Trump on Monday signed an executive order establishing a Women’s Health Division within the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and a White House Women’s Health Task Force a move being seen as a major outreach to women voters.

The order was signed in a Rose Garden ceremony alongside First Lady Melania Trump, who spearheaded the initiative and is being credited as the driving force behind it.

What The Order Does:

 Creates a new Women’s Health Division at NIH within 90 days. It will not replace

 the existing Office of Research on Women’s Health (established in 1990) but will have a broader mandate beyond research, translating science into clinical care.

Creates a White House Women’s Health Task Force to mobilize the entire federal government. The Task Force will be co-chaired by White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles (who recently announced she is cancer-free after breast cancer treatment) and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Mandates a comprehensive approach covering every stage of life - infancy, childhood, adolescence, pregnancy, midlife, menopause and aging.

Prioritizes conditions including maternal health, mental health, endometriosis, infertility, fibroids, autoimmune disorders, chronic pain, Alzheimer’s disease, osteoporosis, heart disease and stroke, along with improving breast cancer screening, fertility education and menopause research.

Melania Trump’s Role:

The First Lady said in her address:

“This is a transformative moment for women in America. Beginning today, we will change the reality of women’s health.”

“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.”

 She said the initiative will use AI, advanced biotechnology and innovative therapies to speed up discoveries, improve access and affordability of care, and bring promising therapeutics to patients faster.

 President Trump praised his wife’s leadership, saying: “These are mothers, daughters, sisters, wives, and under the Trump administration, we’re going to get them the care and support that they need and deserve.”

The Task Force held its first meeting Monday afternoon in the Roosevelt Room.

Why It Matters Politically:

 The order comes just two weeks ahead of the midterms on Nov 3, as the GOP vies to maintain its razor-thin majority in the House and Senate.

 Polls show Trump’s approval among female voters and independent women has dropped from about 40% in 2024 to about 25% in 2026.

The order follows many other announcements in recent days and follows the administration’s earlier moves to cut health care spending and reshape NIH.

What The Order Does NOT Include:

 No specific new funding amount HHS must pay administrative costs, but overall budget will depend on Congress.

 No mention of contraception or reproductive rights/abortion. The FDA is currently conducting a safety review of abortion medication.

 Experts say success will be judged not by the organizational chart, but by whether it produces real grants, trials and treatments.