During the transition between President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump, there has been some collaboration on West Wing affairs. However, this coordination noticeably excludes Biden’s Gender Policy Council, an initiative established to protect reproductive health care amid increasing restrictions. The Gender Policy Council is a pioneering office aimed at improving the lives of women and girls both domestically and globally. Launched via an executive order by Biden in September 2021, it focuses on enhancing reproductive freedom, promoting equitable pay, and increasing women’s workforce participation. Members from Biden’s Cabinet actively represent this council, reflecting its importance in the administration’s overall policy framework.
As is typical for new administrations, the incoming Trump administration is poised to reshape the West Wing according to their priorities, leaving the future of the Gender Policy Council uncertain. Project 2025, a conservative blueprint for governance articulated by the Heritage Foundation, advocates for the council’s termination. This document positions the Gender Policy Council as a proponent of abortion rights and comprehensive sexuality education, which it contests on ideological grounds. The president-elect has publicly denied familiarity with the handbook, yet numerous members of his incoming team contributed to it, and its objectives resonate with many of Trump’s past policies. The handbook explicitly recommends not just dismantling the council but also overturning related policies to stymie the perceived promotion of abortion.
Among the claims made in Project 2025, the handbook inaccurately characterizes the Gender Policy Council as primarily focused on “gender-affirming care” and transitions for minors, alongside abortion advocacy. Instead, it urges Trump to create new avenues aimed at “promoting life and strengthening the family.” Historically, while presidents have addressed women’s issues, no previous administration has instituted a dedicated office for this purpose. In contrast, Biden’s establishment of the Gender Policy Council has led to multiple executive orders aimed at safeguarding reproductive health access. The council has broadened its scope to tackle health disparities and issues affecting women’s well-being, groundbreaking in its commitment to women’s issues.
The administration, through the Gender Policy Council, has made significant strides toward addressing health concerns unique to women, as highlighted by a nearly $1 billion research initiative announced last year. Given that women constitute approximately half of the U.S. population, their distinct health needs require particular attention and funding. Moreover, the council has targeted pressing issues like high child care costs and the necessity for adequate paid leave policies to support families. Jen Klein, the council’s chairwoman, emphasizes that the work of the Gender Policy Council positively impacts both women and the broader community, asserting that these efforts transcend traditional categorization as merely “women’s issues.”
In navigating the political landscape, Klein remains optimistic about the durability of some initiatives despite the impending administration change. Notably, bipartisan legislation like the Violence Against Women Act remains intact, signaling a shared commitment across party lines to address crucial issues affecting women. However, reproductive health care remains a contentious topic, particularly as the council’s establishment came before the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision that dismantled federal abortion protections. In response to this reversal, the council has actively worked to fortify access to reproductive health services, strategically collaborating with the Department of Health and Human Services to advocate for medical protections under federal law.
Trump’s stance on abortion has fluctuated over time, as he tries to balance the conservative base’s desires with broader public sentiment. While he has indicated a preference for states to govern abortion access and refrained from endorsing a national ban, his mixed messages on the topic reflect the complexities of navigating a deeply divided electorate. Recently, Trump provided a somewhat ambiguous assurance regarding medication abortion access, hinting at an inclination towards neutrality while acknowledging the potential for shifts in policy direction. As these political dynamics unfold, the fate of the Gender Policy Council and its initiatives remains in a precarious balance, signaling an ongoing battle over reproductive rights and women’s health in America.
