CDC Removes Key LGBTQ+ Health Pages Despite Court Rulings

Federal Order Targets CDC Resources

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has taken down more than a dozen webpages on topics including sexual and gender identity and health equity. An internal email viewed by CNBC revealed that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ordered the removals by the end of September 19. The email, sent that day to employees whose work involved these pages, offered no detailed rationale for the decision.

The removed pages included content on sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among gay men, health equity for people with disabilities, and fact sheets on asexuality and bisexuality. CNBC verified that many of these resources were still active in late August and early September before they disappeared. Wayback Machine records confirm that “About STIs and Gay Men” was last online September 5 and “STI Information for Transgender and Gender Diverse Persons” was last active September 2. Rob Maxwell / Unsplash

Health Advocates Warn of Public Risk

Health equity advocates expressed alarm over the sudden loss of information.
The removal "of critical materials from trusted government resources endangers the health of patients and the public,” a spokesperson for the LGBT PA Caucus said. They added, “Stripping away resources on gender identity does not erase the need, it only erodes trust, creates confusion, and places patients at greater risk.” Advocates stress that clinicians and communities rely on accessible, accurate guidance to ensure safe and effective care. Jas Min / Unsplash

Connection to Trump Administration Policies

An HHS spokesperson said that the “CDC continues to align their website with Administration priorities and Executive Orders,” according to CNBC. This directive fits a broader pattern established by the Trump administration, which has issued executive actions limiting transgender and nonbinary rights and rolling back diversity and inclusion efforts. Earlier this year, thousands of CDC and Food and Drug Administration pages were removed under an order barring references to gender identity in federal policy. Fry1989, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Legal Challenges and Restoration Orders

Federal courts have already intervened in similar cases. In February, a judge ordered HHS, the CDC, and the FDA to temporarily restore many of the previously removed pages. In July, the same judge ruled that the government had acted unlawfully and required agencies to review and reinstate affected resources. As of September 19, administration officials reported that most federal pages had been restored, with only 11 CDC pages still under review. Wesley Tingey / Unsplash

Remaining Questions and Next Steps

Despite the court’s directives, it is unclear how many of the pages removed this month were subject to the lawsuit or why the CDC took down more content on the same day it reported compliance. Some resources listed in the internal email remain live, indicating a complex and evolving process. Observers say the lack of transparency raises concerns about whether future removals could continue under the guise of policy alignment. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons