(WDNews) — The federal government has agreed to restore more than 100 health and science websites that were removed or altered after medical and public health groups filed lawsuits challenging the changes. The sites included information on pregnancy risks, opioid-use disorder and the AIDS epidemic.
Doctors’ groups, including the Washington State Medical Association, the Vermont Medical Society, the Washington State Nurses Association and the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care, argued the removals were harmful and politically motivated. They said the changes followed a Trump-era executive order that banned the use of the word “gender” in official documents and stripped away trusted health resources used by providers nationwide.
As part of the settlement, the Department of Health and Human Services agreed to return the affected websites to their previous state. A spokesperson for the Washington State Medical Association said the sites are expected to be restored in the coming weeks.
A similar lawsuit in Washington, D.C., filed by Doctors for America, also resulted in a court order for restoration. Federal officials said 167 websites have already been reinstated, while 33 remain under review.
HHS said it remains committed to its mission of removing gender and diversity-related ideology from federal programs, subject to the law, while ensuring taxpayer dollars are used effectively.
