Washington — On Monday, President Trump signed an executive order to establish a women’s health division within the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and a White House Women’s Health Task Force. First Lady Melania Trump joined him for the signing ceremony in the Rose Garden. She highlighted that the executive order aims to achieve five key goals:
- Allocating research funds to tackle diseases that predominantly affect women.
- Utilizing artificial intelligence to expedite medical discoveries.
- Speeding up the development of new therapeutics for women.
- Ensuring medical advancements are affordable for women.
- Normalizing discussions about women’s health.
The First Lady remarked, “This is a transformative moment for women in America. Starting today, we will reshape the landscape of women’s health. Past generations fought for women’s rights. Our generation will focus on finding cures that enable women to lead healthy, fulfilling lives.”
President Trump acknowledged the First Lady’s pivotal role in proposing the creation of a women’s health division within NIH. After the president signed the executive order, the First Lady added her signature, though it holds no legal authority.
“Think of it, a women’s health division,” President Trump stated. “Who wouldn’t have such a division? Melania noted, ‘They don’t have it.'”
The president mentioned that Americans will soon learn about “incredible things we’re doing” to provide women with necessary care, though he did not specify the details. It’s uncertain how much funding will support research, therapeutic acceleration, or the affordability of medical breakthroughs for women. This announcement follows the news of White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles’ triumph over breast cancer. After a diagnosis in March, Wiles continued her role and, in September, declared she was cancer-free.
During Monday’s announcement, Mr. Trump applauded Wiles, calling her “fantastic.” He said, “Susie recently beat a tough opponent, breast cancer. It wasn’t easy. We supported her, and she prevailed. She’s a tremendous fighter, and much like our First Lady, she is committed to enhancing the health of American women.”
White House spokeswoman Allison Schuster stated the task force will focus on addressing critical research gaps and improving care for women at all life stages, specifically targeting prevalent health conditions.
Sophia Vlahakis contributed to this report.
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