Federal Judge Orders HHS, CDC, FDA to Restore Public Health Data After Gender Policy Removal

Federal Judge Orders HHS, CDC, FDA to Restore Public Health Data After Gender Policy Removal

By Dr. Marcus Chen, Ph.D.

February 13, 2025 at 12:39 AM

A federal judge has ordered the HHS, CDC, and FDA to restore webpages and public health data that were removed following President Trump's executive order on "gender ideology."

HHS headquarters building in Washington DC

HHS headquarters building in Washington DC

The executive order mandated recognition of only "two sexes, male and female," requiring federal health agencies to remove gender-inclusive content and DEI language from their websites by January's end.

Doctors for America filed a lawsuit on February 4, arguing that the deletion of this data hampered their ability to:

  • Conduct medical research
  • Provide patient care
  • Address public health issues
  • Access vital resources like the CDC's Youth Risk Behavior Survey

U.S. District Judge John Bates granted a temporary restraining order, stating that removing public health data violates federal law. He emphasized that these actions primarily harm "everyday Americans, and most acutely, underprivileged Americans, seeking healthcare."

The executive order also initiated a pause in health communications from federal agencies, affecting critical updates about:

  • Bird flu outbreak information
  • Respiratory virus case tracking
  • Daily H5N1 case reporting

While some communications resumed on February 6, including the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, many channels remain affected. The administration faces multiple legal challenges, with several executive orders currently held up in U.S. courts, including:

  • Federal funding pauses
  • Medical research grant cuts
  • Birthright citizenship challenges

The judge's ruling requires all deleted data and online resources to be restored to the agencies' public-facing websites, ensuring continued access to vital public health information for healthcare providers and researchers.

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