President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Tuesday directing federal agencies to harness artificial intelligence in the fight against pediatric cancer.
The order instructs key administration officials to develop AI-powered strategies for improving the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of childhood cancers. The initiative represents a significant federal push to apply cutting-edge technology to a devastating health crisis. Pediatric cancer remains the leading disease-related killer of American children, with incidence rates climbing more than 40% since 1975.
The order tasks the MAHA Commission to collaborate with the Assistant to the President for Science and Technology and the Special Advisor for AI and Crypto. Together, they will identify ways to enhance the Childhood Cancer Data Initiative, which Trump launched in 2019.
Federal agencies will increase investment in the initiative using existing funds. The order also mandates private sector engagement to maximize the potential of AI in developing pediatric cancer cures.
The Health and Human Services Secretary will integrate AI into current interoperability efforts to improve research and clinical trials. The order emphasizes maintaining patient and parental control over health information while advancing data sharing.
The executive action builds on Trump’s first-term cancer initiatives, including the Childhood Cancer STAR Act. That legislation advanced research and surveillance while providing support for survivors.
Trump’s broader health agenda includes the MAHA Commission, established in February to investigate the root causes of childhood chronic diseases. The commission released comprehensive assessments in May and September outlining strategies to reverse what it calls America’s childhood health crisis.
The administration’s AI Action Plan, released in July, specifically called for investing in AI-enabled science. Tuesday’s order represents the concrete implementation of that vision in pediatric medicine.