In a sweeping move that has raised concerns among public health advocates and environmentalists, federal agencies have begun to remove significant information from their websites. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has taken down guidance related to contraception, HIV, and resources for transgender individuals. This drastic action coincides with directives from the Trump administration, which has ordered the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to eliminate references to the climate crisis from its online platforms.
The CDC's removal of public health information is particularly alarming for advocates of LGBTQ+ rights and health. Guidance on building supportive school environments for transgender and nonbinary students has been wiped from the CDC website, alongside critical data on National Transgender HIV Testing Day. Furthermore, federal surveys documenting the higher rates of depression, drug use, and bullying experienced by transgender students have vanished, leaving many in the community without vital resources.
“This action sends a troubling message about the administration’s commitment to public health and inclusivity,” stated a representative from the Infectious Diseases Society of America. The organization decried the removal of information pertaining to HIV and transgender individuals, highlighting the negative implications for public health initiatives.
Compounding these issues, a memo from the USDA instructed website managers across all agencies to "identify and archive or unpublish any landing pages focused on climate change." As a result, many federal websites went dark last Friday as agencies scrambled to comply with this directive. Although some resources remain available, such as the USDA's Climate Hubs that connect agricultural producers to local programs, critical sites like the USFS Climate Change Resource Center have been taken offline.
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Originates from: The United States Forest Service website
The urgency of these changes has prompted confusion and chaos within federal agencies. Reports indicate that the administration has halted hiring and paused various projects, contributing to an atmosphere of uncertainty among federal workers. In an unexpected move, a widespread buyout offer was issued, allowing federal employees to resign with guaranteed pay and benefits through September 2025 if they choose to leave within the next week.
The USDA's directive to unpublish climate-related content stems from an email sent to public affairs directors by USDA officials, stating, “USDA needs to adhere to requirements around records retention, so Archive or Unpublish landing pages focused on climate change.” This directive aligns with broader actions taken by the Trump administration, including the repeal of environmental protections established by his predecessor, Joe Biden, and the withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement.
The implications of these directives extend beyond mere website updates; they represent a significant shift in how federal agencies prioritize health information and environmental issues. Critics argue that by silencing discussions around climate change and LGBTQ+ health, the administration is failing to address pressing challenges facing these communities.