A controversy has erupted within the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) after a list of banned words, including "woman," "disabled," and "elderly," began circulating among staff members. The list, reportedly reviewed by Reuters, comprises over two dozen terms and has left many FDA employees perplexed. The confusion stems from concerns that the directive may be a misinterpretation of an executive order from former President Trump aimed at curtailing "gender ideology."
The list originated from the FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health, which employs over 2,000 individuals. It has been circulating in official work communications since at least last week. Despite the list's presence, an FDA spokesman clarified that there is no official list of banned words within the agency. The White House also commented that most words on the list did not require removal from communications.
The dissemination of this list has raised questions and concerns among FDA employees.
"I don't understand why we can't use a word like 'woman,'" an FDA source who received the list remarked.
In response to the confusion, it's suggested that the list's creation may have been an overzealous attempt to comply with the executive order. The FDA has been directed to eliminate certain words to align with the order, including "gender," "inclusion," "identity," "diversity," "inter," "intersex," "equity," "equitable," "transgender," and "trans."
This situation has occurred amidst broader workforce reductions within the FDA. Over 1,000 employees have been dismissed across various divisions as part of mass layoffs initiated by the Department of Government Efficiency. These layoffs, coupled with speech restrictions, are expected to significantly slow down the review processes for medical devices. Additionally, these constraints could impede scientists' ability to raise safety concerns about devices before they reach the public.
The FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health plays a crucial role in ensuring the safety and efficacy of medical devices. Any impediments to its operations could have widespread implications. Another federal health agency has similarly been instructed to remove terms such as "gender," "transgender," "LGBT," and "nonbinary" from its communications, indicating a broader trend across federal agencies.