Democracy thrives when unexpected opportunities for progress are embraced. The challenges faced by women’s health in the current environment are significant. The Trump administration has worsened an already bleak status quo.

Currently, women in the United States face higher rates of death from preventable causes compared to other developed countries. Maternal mortality rates in the U.S. are notably high. The situation is particularly dire for Black women, who experience exponentially higher mortality rates.

Despite these alarming figures, the National Institutes for Health (NIH) has reduced funding for research addressing disparities related to race, sex, or gender. Proposals that include terms like “women” and “diversity” often face outright exclusion from consideration.