Trump Administration Orders Federal Agency Websites to Remove Content Contrary to President’s Thinking
The Trump administration instructed federal agencies to remove content from their websites that contravenes the president’s views, sparking confusion among agencies and individuals in Washington. According to sources, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) issued a memo last week instructing agencies to take down all public-facing media, including websites and social media accounts, of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEIA) offices by a 5:00 p.m. EST deadline on January 22. However, aides claimed that the memo was misinterpreted, leaving agencies scrambling to understand the intended action.
In a press briefing, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that agency websites remained operational, alleviating some concerns. President Trump, when questioned by reporters about the matter, stated that he was open to agencies “scrubbing” their websites if they deemed necessary.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was among the affected agencies, with staff rushing to reword content referencing non-binary and transgender individuals, in line with the executive order recognizing only “two sexes, male and female.” Pages could not be immediately revised to remove mentions of gender, such as those targeted at transgender people, were removed for eventual rework.
Other organizations, including hospitals, non-profit organizations, and health departments, received letters from the Trump administration, mandating compliance with the new rules. These directives instructed recipients to terminate programs, personnel, and contracts promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion, and to remove gender references from their websites, email signatures, and all activities.
The move sparked confusion and concern, with some grant recipients expressing uncertainty about how to comply with the demands. The administration’s actions have hampered efforts to advance diversity and inclusion initiatives, sparking widespread controversy and debate.
