White House Unveils Maternal Health Plan as Black Women Still Face 3 Times Higher Death Risk
Updated
Updated · HuffPost · May 26
White House Unveils Maternal Health Plan as Black Women Still Face 3 Times Higher Death Risk
2 articles · Updated · HuffPost · May 26
Summary
The White House this week launched a maternal health action plan and moms.gov, but the rollout drew criticism for not directly addressing Black maternal mortality.
Rep. Summer Lee pressed HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on whether anti-DEI policies could undermine research into Black maternal deaths, arguing broad assurances that “everybody is included” do not confront the disparity.
2023 data showed Black women were still more than three times as likely as white women to die from pregnancy-related causes, even as overall U.S. maternal death rates declined.
Accounts from Serena Williams, Janell Green Smith and other Black mothers have kept attention on a crisis advocates say remains rooted in bias, dismissed symptoms and unequal treatment in hospitals.
Measures such as the Momnibus Act and WELLS Act reflect a wider push to curb preventable deaths, but advocates say policy alone will not erase the fear many Black families carry into childbirth.
New laws mandate anti-bias training for doctors. Why do Black mothers still face a threefold higher risk of dying?
As hospital systems fail, could community-based doulas be the key to saving Black mothers' lives?
Black Maternal Mortality Crisis: Policy Gaps, Racial Disparities, and the Urgent Need for Targeted Action in the U.S.
Overview
In May 2026, the White House launched Moms.gov as a central resource for maternal health, with President Donald Trump urging mothers to use the site. This initiative is part of the broader 'Make America Healthy Again' agenda, aiming to help families thrive in all aspects of well-being. However, the plan quickly faced criticism for lacking a clear focus on Black maternal health, as advocates and experts raised concerns that a general approach would not address the specific challenges and disparities Black mothers face. This highlights a key tension between broad policy goals and the need for targeted solutions.