Even as Republicans struggle to win over female voters two weeks before the midterm elections, US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order backed by First Lady Melania Trump to advance the health of women in America.The initiative will establish a new Division of Women’s Health within the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and a Women’s Health Task Force within the White House.The executive order aims to advance women’s health by ensuring that medical research, diagnosis, prevention and treatment reflect the highest-quality scientific evidence, to improve health outcomes at every stage of life.“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,” the first lady said.Trump called the announcement “a big deal” and credited himself with introducing a new initiative. “When I heard about it, I said, ‘Are you sure they don’t have that?’” the president said. “Who the hell wouldn’t have a women’s health division?”Is This the First US Women’s Health Research Initiative?The US has had a dedicated office for women’s health research since 1990, when the Office of Research on Women’s Health was established at the NIH during President George H.W. Bush’s administration.In April 2025, a few months after Trump took office, the Department of Health and Human Services decided to slash funding for the Women’s Health Initiative, a long-running, taxpayer-funded study of a broad range of women’s health issues that began in the 1990s. Officials restored the funding after a public outcry.“These studies represent critical contributions to our better understanding of women’s health,” Emily G. Hilliard, a department spokeswoman, said at the time.The new division will operate in coordination with the existing Office of Research on Women’s Health rather than replace it. Under the order, it must be established within an appropriate NIH institute or center within 90 days.The White House said the move is intended to broaden the government’s focus beyond research and prioritize translating scientific discoveries into clinical care for women and girls.What Are Melania Trump’s Five Pillars of Women’s Health Innovation?Melania highlighted her “First Lady’s Five Pillars of Women’s Health Innovation,” which outline the initiative’s proposed approach:Direct research funding: Support research aimed at finding cures for conditions that uniquely affect women.Use artificial intelligence: Leverage advanced AI capabilities to improve understanding of female biology and accelerate medical discoveries.Speed up treatment development: Accelerate the transition of promising therapies from laboratories to female patients while maintaining strict safety standards.Improve access and affordability: Ensure medical breakthroughs are accessible and affordable to women, regardless of their financial circumstances.Encourage open conversations: Replace generations of silence with open discussion, education and compassion around women’s health.The Women’s Health Task Force will work in collaboration with the private sector to advance new technologies and solutions for women’s health.It aims to develop high-quality, scientifically supported medical information and care while advancing new treatments, therapies and cures for women.It will be led by White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, who recently completed treatment for breast cancer, and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.While Trump said the panel will coordinate with various federal agencies and programs, the executive order does not specify funding targets.Which Health Conditions Will the New Division Study?According to the Department of Health and Human Services, the division will study conditions that uniquely or disproportionately affect women, including:Cardiovascular disease and cancerAutoimmune and inflammatory conditionsChronic painEndometriosis and fibroidsPolycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)Infertility and menopauseAlzheimer’s disease and osteoporosis.