US Federal Websites Remove Vaccine and LGBTQ Health Data Under New Policy

In a sweeping change directed by the Trump administration, references to “gender ideology” and vaccine data have been removed from multiple federal websites, including those of major public health agencies. The move aligns with recent executive orders banning diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and defining gender strictly as male or female.

A memo issued on Wednesday instructed federal agencies to terminate any taxpayer-funded programs promoting gender ideology and remove related website content by 17:00 EST on Friday. When asked about the removals, Trump stated, “If they want to scrub the websites, that’s OK with me.”

By Saturday morning, key Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) webpages dedicated to gender identity, sexually transmitted diseases, and LGBTQ health were no longer accessible, instead displaying “page not found” messages. The CDC, a vital source for government health data and research, had hosted extensive information on these topics.

Among the missing resources is the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), a study tracking high school students’ health behaviors, including mental health, nutrition, physical activity, and sexual health. The tool used to explore this data has also gone offline. Archived pages show the study examined how LGBTQ students experienced discrimination and its impact on their well-being.

Other removed pages include resources on “Supporting LGBTQ+ Youth” and “Health Disparities Among LGBTQ Youth”, which previously outlined how stigma and discrimination contributed to negative health outcomes.

Additionally, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which oversees the CDC, has taken down diversity and inclusion-related content, further signaling a broad shift in federal health policy.