A recent directive from the Trump administration has placed several scientific papers in jeopardy by restricting the use of terms such as “gender,” “LGBT,” “transgender,” and “nonbinary” in research supported by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The executive order, issued on January 31, forces researchers to comply with a policy that recognizes only two sexes—male and female—effectively eliminating references to gender diversity in government-backed studies. This decision has sparked outrage among scientists, who argue that it denies scientific realities and undermines public health research.
Scientific Papers Pulled from Publication
One of the most immediate consequences of this policy was the withdrawal of a CDC-backed study on the U.S. response to the 2022 mpox outbreak. The study had already passed peer review and was ready for publication when the directive was enforced.
The CDC did not specify which parts of the research were problematic, but sources indicate that the study included demographic data on men who have sex with men and LGBT populations, groups that were central to the mpox outbreak response.
Researchers Offer to Remove Their Names
To keep their research from being completely shelved, CDC scientists involved in the study offered to remove their names so that the work could still be published. However, medical journals require written approval from all contributors before an author can be dropped, leading to further delays.
Public Health Experts Speak Out
The scientific community has widely condemned the policy. Editors of the British Medical Journal called the order “sinister and ludicrous,” arguing that it constitutes censorship, erasure of medical terminology, and an attack on scientific freedom.
Dr. Chris Beyrer, director of the Duke Global Health Institute, expressed concerns that the restriction could cripple HIV research. Nearly 75% of new HIV infections in the U.S. occur among gay, bisexual men and transgender women, making demographic analysis essential for effective prevention efforts.
“If you can’t use the words, how are we supposed to conduct HIV surveillance? How will we understand what is happening in this country?” Beyrer questioned.
Concerns Over Future Research
The ban could significantly impact ongoing and future research collaborations between CDC scientists and international health organizations. Experts fear that removing key terminology could lead to incomplete data collection and weaken the response to public health crises.
While the Trump administration maintains that the order aligns with its policies on gender identity, scientists warn that scientific accuracy should not be subject to political interference.
