In addition to his attempts to censor the Internet, the media and his critics, Donald Trump and his administration have moved to censor the nation’s top public health agency in asking the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to refrain from using a list of seven words or phrases in any documents for next year’s budget.
According to reports, the CDC received a list of restricted words on Thursday as part of a 90-minute briefing on the budget topic. Analysts in the organization must now refrain from using the words, “vulnerable,” “entitlement,” “diversity,” “transgender,” “fetus,” “evidence-based” and “science-based.”
However, amid the backlash over the ban, the Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the CDC, released a statement, via email, in an attempt to simmer down the outrage.
“The assertion that H.H.S has ‘banned words’ is a complete mischaracterization of discussions regarding the budget formulation process,” Matt Llyod said in the statement. “H.H.S will continue to use the best scientific evidence available to improve the health of all Americans. H.H.S also strongly encourages the use of outcome and evidence data to program evaluations and budget decisions.”
In the Thursday meeting as reported by The Washington Post, the organization was reportedly given alternative words or phrases in place of the prohibited. Instead of “science” or “evidence-based,” the organization suggested, “C.D.C bases its recommendations on science in consideration with community standards and wishes.”
While the purported ban was confirmed by several officials who were present at the time of the briefing, others alleged that the discussion was simply a suggestion or recommendation to use some words or phrases over others to help push the approval of Republicans. However, as outrage continues to flare in the wake of the alleged ban, it remains unclear where the suggestions originated from, whether it was the H.H.S or the C.D.C., itself, under the instruction of the administration. It also remains unclear if the ban would extend beyond budget documentation.
