The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) website remains inaccessible, marking a concerning trend under the Trump administration. Nearly 40% of "climate change" references vanished from federal websites during Trump's first term. Alarmed researchers are now warning of a significant data purge at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), raising questions about transparency and accountability. A notice on Data.CDC.gov cites compliance with Executive Order 14168, which claims to "restore biological truth" by removing gender identity-related content.
In a controversial move, the Trump administration has accused diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives of "corrupting" government institutions. It also blames "climate extremism" for rising inflation and burdensome regulations. The deletion of crucial data related to environmental and public health has sparked widespread concern and controversy. Both the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Transportation (USDOT) have taken down web pages focused on climate sustainability and equity, further fueling criticism.
The Environmental Data and Governance Initiative (EDGI) has stepped in to archive datasets such as the CDC's Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) and Environmental Justice Index (EJI). This action comes as a safeguard against information loss, reminiscent of previous data erasures under Trump's leadership. As Trump returns to office, he has swiftly begun reversing policies addressing climate change and social inequality. An internal memo within USDOT directed agencies to identify and terminate all Biden-era programs linked to climate change and DEI.
Additionally, the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) website has been taken offline. The CDC has stated that the PEPFAR portal will return only once it aligns with the directives of the new administration. Since its inception in 2003, PEPFAR has saved over 20.6 million lives, underscoring its critical importance.
The End of Term Web Archive continues its role in preserving federal content during presidential transitions, a practice in place since 2008. However, the current deletions raise significant concerns about the integrity and availability of essential data. As federal websites undergo changes, stakeholders demand clarity on the criteria used for content removal.
