commentary

The first lady co-signed the president’s order, a serious setback for women’s health

Published October 21, 2026 6:30AM (EDT)

First lady Melania Trump and President Donald Trump arrive for an executive order signing ceremony in the Rose Garden of the White House on Oct. 19, 2026. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

On Monday, alongside First Lady Melania Trump, President Donald Trump signed an executive order establishing the Women’s Health Division at the National Institutes of Health and a White House Women’s Health Task Force. According to the White House , the aim is to support policy reforms to ensure that women’s research is well-funded and that women have access to “stage-specific prevention, diagnoses, treatment, and care.”

At first glance, the action is in line with what women have long been advocating for.…