Alerts on social media on 25 February warned that the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was facing a purge of data resources.
While the main data portal is currently offline, researchers have been archiving government websites for months due to the change of administration.
As we reported, access to 20% of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) website was removed during Trump’s first stint in the White House.
Now, the CDC’s social vulnerability and environmental justice indices, which could highlight disproportionate health risks, have also been taken offline this week.
The EJI was launched by the Biden administration in 2022 to address the issue of pollution borne by low-income communities and people of colour.
Trump has signed an order to undo Biden-era policies, claiming that “diversity, equity, and inclusion” has “corrupted” government institutions.
Additionally, attempts to limit foreign aid seem to have led to information being removed on HIV and AIDS.