WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Trump administration has ordered federal agencies to remove diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) content from official government websites. This move has sparked concerns regarding transparency and public access to information.
Federal Agencies Instructed to Delete Diversity-Related Content
According to a memo from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), all federal agencies were required to remove DEIA-related content by 5:00 p.m. EST on January 22, 2025. This directive caused confusion across Washington, as some officials initially questioned whether entire websites would be taken down.
CDC Removes Transgender and Nonbinary Vaccine Guidance
📌 Key Developments:
- Federal agencies began deleting diversity-related content from government websites and social media accounts.
- The CDC eliminated guidance for transgender and nonbinary individuals from vaccine recommendations.
- Nonprofits and health departments receiving federal funds were warned to comply with the new policies or risk losing financial support.
White House Confirms Website Changes
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt assured reporters that government websites remain operational but acknowledged that some pages are being updated.
📌 President Trump’s Statement:
👉 “If they want to scrub the websites, that’s OK with me.”
Impact on CDC & Health Organizations
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) acted swiftly to align with the administration’s new policies, removing gender-inclusive language from vaccine recommendations.
📌 Effects on Health Guidelines:
- Web pages mentioning transgender and nonbinary individuals were taken down for revision.
- Hospitals, nonprofits, and state health departments received letters instructing them to follow new gender restrictions.
- Grant recipients were warned that failure to remove gender-related content could result in loss of federal funding.
Government Contractors & Federal Grant Recipients Warned
📌 Internal documents obtained by CBS News reveal the following mandates:
✅ All DEIA-related content must be removed from websites and official communications.
✅ Pronouns must be eliminated from email signatures and gender-inclusive language deleted from documents.
✅ All diversity and gender-related programs must be immediately terminated across all federally funded entities.
Reactions & Legal Concerns
📌 Critics argue that this move:
- Reduces access to essential health information for transgender and nonbinary individuals.
- Weakens workplace inclusivity by eliminating diversity-related policies.
- Raises constitutional concerns regarding government restrictions on public information.
📌 Supporters claim:
- The action aligns with Trump’s executive order recognizing only “two sexes, male and female.”
- Federal agencies should not fund DEIA initiatives that contradict White House policies.
Next Steps & Legal Challenges
📌 As agencies implement these directives, legal experts anticipate lawsuits challenging the new policies.
📌 Advocacy groups are urging Congress to investigate the impact of these changes on healthcare, workplace policies, and government funding recipients.