CDC and other federal agencies remove HIV data in response to 'gender ideology' ban
Webpages from the CDC that have reportedly been removed include HIV statistics for transgender individuals and data on health disparities affecting LGBTQ+ youth.
Written by Sushmita Panda, Health Desk
February 1, 2025, 07:49 IST
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CDC and other federal agencies remove HIV data to comply with 'gender ideology' restrictions
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (Image Credits: Reuters)
On Friday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other federal health agencies took down various webpages containing HIV data and other health information to adhere to directives from the Trump administration concerning gender identity and diversity. The decision has sparked concerns among medical professionals and patient advocates.
As reported by Reuters, the CDC's removed pages include statistics on HIV among transgender individuals, as well as data highlighting health disparities among gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender youth. A database tracking health risk behaviors in youth is also no longer accessible.
Earlier this month, President Donald Trump issued an order mandating that the federal government only recognize biological sex (male or female) and eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. On January 29, the Office of Personnel Management provided more specific instructions to federal agencies, stating that they must implement the changes by January 31.
In addition, the directive calls for the removal of any references to gender identity online, as the government is to focus exclusively on biological sex. A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the CDC, confirmed that the website changes align with these guidelines, according to Reuters.
“The agency is working hard to comply,” said an anonymous source familiar with the matter. “Anything on the website that doesn’t align with the executive order is being taken down.”
Pages removed from the CDC’s site include general HIV data for the U.S., as well as information on HIV among Hispanic/Latino people, women, and by various age groups, races, and ethnicities. The Infectious Diseases Society of America and the HIV Medicine Association warned that this deletion creates a dangerous gap in essential data needed for monitoring and responding to health issues, such as disease outbreaks.
For instance, a page offering information on HIV testing was taken down, as was a page with details for doctors on testing and treatment. John Peller, head of the AIDS Foundation Chicago, expressed alarm, stating, “In many cases, basic health information is going dark.”
Timothy Jackson, senior director of policy and advocacy at the organization, mentioned they are now printing out critical HIV information from the CDC's site before it becomes inaccessible. Also missing is the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System, which tracks key health trends, including tobacco use, teen pregnancy, and unsafe sexual behaviors.
At the National Institutes of Health, a senior staff member, Nate Brought, urged leaders to resist implementing the Trump administration’s directive. In an email to acting NIH Director Matthew Memoli, Brought emphasized that the orders conflicted with years of NIH research on gender and sexuality, and complying with them would undermine the contributions of trans and intersex people in both the agency and society at large.
Brought also warned that these policies could lead to mental health crises and harm for many Americans, especially those within vulnerable communities.
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