U.S. health agencies have scrubbed data related to HIV and other health issues to remove references to “gender ideology.” This move is part of a broader effort to align with recent executive orders targeting transgender recognition and healthcare.
In late January 2025, following an executive order from President Donald Trump mandating federal agencies to recognize only two biological sexes, U.S. health agencies began removing references to “gender ideology” from their websites and materials. This directive led to the elimination of data and resources related to LGBTQ+ health, including information on HIV, transgender health issues, and health disparities.
The Office of Personnel Management issued a memo instructing agency heads to strip mentions of “gender ideology” from websites, contracts, and emails. Consequently, key datasets from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), vital for tracking diseases, were temporarily removed, causing concern among public health experts.
Researchers have expressed alarm over the potential censorship of scientific papers containing terms now deemed unacceptable, such as “gender,” “nonbinary,” “transgender,” and “LGBT.” This move threatens to hinder public health research and the dissemination of critical information necessary for addressing health issues within minority communities.
Public health experts warn that these actions could lead to significant setbacks in disease outbreak response and ongoing research. Susan Pollan of the American Public Health Association emphasized the dangers of reduced access to health data, noting potential detrimental psychological and physical effects on marginalized populations.
The removal of these resources has sparked confusion and dismay among healthcare professionals and advocates, who stress the importance of evidence-based information in public health. The long-term implications of these actions remain uncertain, but they underscore the tension between political directives and scientific research.
