Information's being taken down: How the executive orders are impacting public health resources
- Replies 1
In an age where information is power, the sudden disappearance of crucial health resources from government websites is causing alarm and confusion.
As of late, multiple health agency web pages that provide essential information have been taken down in compliance with recent executive orders.
This move has left many Americans, particularly those in vulnerable communities, without access to potentially life-saving information. How does this affect Americans?
Government agency web pages that contain information about HIV, LGBTQ+ people, and other public health topics were inaccessible as of Friday evening following President Donald Trump’s executive orders.
The executive orders in question, aimed at gender ideology and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), have led to the removal of terms such as “pregnant people,” “chestfeeding,” and references to vaccines, health, and gender equity from official sites.
These orders have also resulted in the temporary removal of entire databases, leaving researchers scrambling to archive data before it's lost.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) officials, speaking under the condition of anonymity, have confirmed that some pages might return after the language is reviewed and removed.
However, the specifics of which pages will be reinstated remain unclear.
Among the removed pages were key CDC resources detailing the rate of HIV diagnoses, breakdowns of infections by race and gender, and the probability of HIV transmission through various forms of sex.
The Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System, a national survey that collects data on teenagers' habits, including their gender identity, is also currently inaccessible.
The CDC's “HIV Risk Reduction Tool,” an interactive platform that helped users assess the risk of certain sexual behaviors, has been erased. In its place, the agency has consolidated all its information about HIV into a single, simplified page titled “About HIV.”
Furthermore, reproductiverights.gov, which provided resources on reproductive care and abortion access, and the Food and Drug Administration's “Minority Health and Health Equity” webpage have also been taken down.
When asked about the possibility of government websites being shut down for content review, President Trump indicated that it wouldn't be a “bad idea.”
"DEI ... would have ruined our country, and now it's dead. I think DEI is dead. So, if they want to scrub the website, that's OK with me. But I can't tell you," Trump added. His executive order on DEI called for an end to any related policies within the federal government.
Another executive order, Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government, directed the federal government to recognize only two sexes: male and female.
Source: NBC News / Youtube.
A memo sent to HHS officials instructed subagencies like the CDC to remove all media promoting gender ideology by a set deadline.
Also read: A review: Executive Orders issued by Donald Trump in his first week
We invite you to join the conversation. How do you feel about the removal of these health resources? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below, but please remember to remain respectful.
As of late, multiple health agency web pages that provide essential information have been taken down in compliance with recent executive orders.
This move has left many Americans, particularly those in vulnerable communities, without access to potentially life-saving information. How does this affect Americans?
Government agency web pages that contain information about HIV, LGBTQ+ people, and other public health topics were inaccessible as of Friday evening following President Donald Trump’s executive orders.
The executive orders in question, aimed at gender ideology and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), have led to the removal of terms such as “pregnant people,” “chestfeeding,” and references to vaccines, health, and gender equity from official sites.
Government agency web pages on topics such as HIV and LGBTQ+ health were removed due to executive orders aimed at gender ideology and diversity, equity, and inclusion. Image source: FOX 2 Detroit / Youtube.
These orders have also resulted in the temporary removal of entire databases, leaving researchers scrambling to archive data before it's lost.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) officials, speaking under the condition of anonymity, have confirmed that some pages might return after the language is reviewed and removed.
However, the specifics of which pages will be reinstated remain unclear.
Among the removed pages were key CDC resources detailing the rate of HIV diagnoses, breakdowns of infections by race and gender, and the probability of HIV transmission through various forms of sex.
The Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System, a national survey that collects data on teenagers' habits, including their gender identity, is also currently inaccessible.
The CDC's “HIV Risk Reduction Tool,” an interactive platform that helped users assess the risk of certain sexual behaviors, has been erased. In its place, the agency has consolidated all its information about HIV into a single, simplified page titled “About HIV.”
Furthermore, reproductiverights.gov, which provided resources on reproductive care and abortion access, and the Food and Drug Administration's “Minority Health and Health Equity” webpage have also been taken down.
When asked about the possibility of government websites being shut down for content review, President Trump indicated that it wouldn't be a “bad idea.”
"DEI ... would have ruined our country, and now it's dead. I think DEI is dead. So, if they want to scrub the website, that's OK with me. But I can't tell you," Trump added. His executive order on DEI called for an end to any related policies within the federal government.
Another executive order, Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government, directed the federal government to recognize only two sexes: male and female.
Source: NBC News / Youtube.
A memo sent to HHS officials instructed subagencies like the CDC to remove all media promoting gender ideology by a set deadline.
Also read: A review: Executive Orders issued by Donald Trump in his first week
We invite you to join the conversation. How do you feel about the removal of these health resources? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below, but please remember to remain respectful.
Last edited:
