Medical organizations are voicing serious concerns over the sudden removal or alteration of critical health data and webpages from federal agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), following executive orders issued by President Donald Trump.
American Cancer Society Calls for Health Data Restoration
The American Cancer Society (ACS), a leading nonprofit in cancer research and prevention, issued a strong statement condemning the changes, calling on the administration to restore access to comprehensive health data and ensure scientific research remains evidence-based and free from bureaucratic interference.
“Any restriction to gather and release these data could thwart our ability to address and reduce the cancer burden across all communities,” said Dr. Wayne A. I. Frederick, interim CEO of ACS.
One major concern is the removal of the Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) from CDC websites. The SVI uses U.S. Census data to identify county-level risk factors such as poverty, race, disability, and housing conditions, which help public health officials allocate resources effectively.
“Data from public sources like the Social Vulnerability Index are key to deploying the right resources to those who could benefit the most,” ACS stated. “Any barriers to accessing these data can also impact planning and deployment of support services for cancer patients and survivors.”
Sweeping Changes to Federal Health Websites
The Trump administration has taken down or altered webpages relating to HIV, LGBTQ+ health, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Internal CDC sources, speaking on the condition of anonymity, confirmed that terms such as pregnant people, chestfeeding, diversity, and gender equity were flagged for removal from federal sites.
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Medical Groups Take Legal Action
The nonprofit group Doctors for America has filed a lawsuit against multiple Trump administration agencies, demanding the restoration of deleted health information. The lawsuit, filed in a Washington, D.C. federal court, targets the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)—which oversees the CDC and FDA.
In the lawsuit, Doctors for America warned that the removal of data “creates a dangerous gap in the scientific data available to monitor and respond to disease outbreaks, deprives physicians of resources that guide clinical practice, and takes away key resources for communicating and engaging with patients.”
CDC and White House Respond
In a statement to media, the CDC confirmed that changes to its website were made in accordance with Trump’s executive orders, specifically:
- Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government
- Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing
A CDC spokesperson further explained that HHS is “pausing mass communications and public appearances” while the new administration establishes a review process for public health messaging.
When asked whether government websites were being shut down for “scrubbing”, Trump responded:
“DEI … would have ruined our country, and now it’s dead. I think DEI is dead. So, if they want to scrub the website, that’s OK with me. But I can’t tell you.”
Long-Term Implications for Medical Research
Medical experts warn that removing or restricting access to key health datasets could have lasting effects on public health initiatives and scientific research. The ACS, which relies heavily on federal and state data for its annual reports like Cancer Statistics, 2025 and Cancer Facts and Figures, fears these changes could disrupt cancer screening guidelines, prevention efforts, and policy recommendations.
“We are very concerned that the changes in data collection and dissemination have the potential to impact these efforts in the future,” Frederick stated.
As legal battles unfold and the scientific community pushes back, the future of public health transparency under the Trump administration remains uncertain.
