Health and social policy

Executive Order 14120: Advancing Women's Health Research and Innovation

President: Joseph R. Biden Jr.

Directed agencies to expand and coordinate research on women's health across the lifespan, strengthen clinical-research standards and identify funding opportunities.

Status: In effect. Is Executive Order 14120 still in effect? Yes. Executive Order 14120 remains in effect. See Federal Register record.

What does Executive Order 14120 do?

NIH and HHS were assigned a research agenda; agencies also had to review participation, data and funding across life stages.

Administration position: The order’s findings and policy rationale were the Biden administration’s positions. This guide distinguishes them from implementation records and judicial rulings.
SignedMarch 18, 2024
Lead officialsHHS/NIH, OSTP, Defense, Veterans Affairs and research agencies
Express timingMultiple reports and funding actions within 45 to 180 days

Before and after

Before the order

Statutes required inclusion of women in NIH research, but research gaps and coordination problems remained across conditions and life stages.

After the order

NIH and other agencies announced research investments and programs. The successor administration ended the White House initiative structure, while congressionally authorized research and awarded projects continued; no direct litigation was located.

Who had to do what

Agency / officeActionTiming / position
NIH and HHSDevelop a research agenda and funding planWithin 180 days
AgenciesImprove research standards, data and clinical participationStaged deadlines
OMB and OSTPCoordinate budget and policyOngoing

What happened next

EO 14120 signed.

EO and agency commitments announced.