The President on Oct. 19, 2026, signed Executive Order 14437 to establish a Women’s Health Division and a White House Women’s Health Task Force. The document, published in the Federal Register on Oct. 22, 2026, states a United States policy to prioritize translating research into improved clinical care for women in all phases of life.
The order states that despite advances in biomedical science, many diseases and conditions that uniquely or disproportionately affect women have not received the level of research, clinical attention, and treatment that other diseases have. According to the order, improving health outcomes for women requires coordinated federal leadership, bolstered scientific investment, and accelerated translation of research into clinical and community practice.
The order directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the National Institutes of Health, to establish the Women’s Health Division within 90 days. The order directs the division to increase scientific review of understudied women’s health conditions, advance research, promote innovation, and facilitate the translation of scientific discoveries into public health implementation. The division is also directed to develop accountability for grant recipients to enhance adherence to the NIH policy requiring research to account for sex as a biological variable.
The order establishes the White House Women’s Health Task Force, co-chaired by the Health and Human Services Secretary and the Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff. The order states the task force includes the Secretaries of War, Agriculture, Labor, Education, and Veterans Affairs, along with other agency directors and administrators. The Department of Health and Human Services is directed to provide funding for the administrative costs of the task force.
The order tasks the group with ensuring a comprehensive approach to women’s health and supporting policy and regulatory reforms for prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and care. It directs the task force to focus on advancing women’s health science and accelerating evidence-based strategies to integrate research into policies and clinical practices.
Executive Order 14437 revokes two prior executive actions: Executive Order 14120 of March 18, 2024, and a Presidential Memorandum of Nov. 13, 2023.