The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has ordered its scientists to retract or pause research manuscripts under review at any journal to remove language deemed unacceptable by the Trump administration, raising concerns about censorship and scientific integrity.
Jeremy Faust reports for MedPage Today.
In short:
- The CDC has blocked publication of studies that include terms such as "gender," "transgender" and "LGBT" to comply with a Trump administration directive.
- Researchers must remove banned terms from papers already accepted for publication but not yet released, creating confusion and delays.
- Only one Trump-appointed CDC official, acting director Susan Monarez, has authority over these decisions, further slowing scientific communications.
"How can one person vet all of this?"
— CDC official
Why this matters:
In an era when public health relies on clear, comprehensive data, the suppression of research and restrictions on language have far-reaching consequences. Scientists who track disease patterns and health disparities warn that this censorship of terms related to gender and sexual orientation skews critical data, potentially leading to flawed policies on prevention and treatment. The ripple effects extend beyond academia — public health agencies, hospitals and policymakers depend on accurate research to address disparities in everything from cancer to mental health outcomes.
Related: CDC faces backlash for removing key public health data from its website
