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ASPPH Releases Statement About CDC Data Removal and Recent Research Restrictions

scientist in a lab coat analyzing test tubes and research documents in a laboratory setting

Last Friday, the Trump Administration took the unusual step of purging federal websites, including those that contain public health and other critical data. This action included the removal of numerous datasets and webpages from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website. The CDC site now states, “CDC’s website is being modified to comply with President Trump’s Executive Orders.”

ASPPH released a statement earlier this week calling on the Trump Administration “to restore access to these critical data sets and remove barriers to scientific research and publications to protect the health and safety of the American people.”

Our statement also expresses deep concern over the suspension of scientific publications, including a pause in publishing Public Health Reports, the journal ASPPH co-publishes with the Office of the U.S. Surgeon General.

Data is the lifeblood of public health research, leading to breakthroughs in disease prevention and intervention. Academic public health research has historically contributed to strategies that successfully control diseases such as smallpox, measles, tuberculosis, West Nile, diabetes, and heart disease. Blocking access to reliable data hinders life-saving research, weakens disease prevention efforts, and undermines the ability of public health experts to provide accurate guidance at local, state, and federal levels.

At a time when the United States faces persistent threats from infectious diseases, chronic illnesses, and emerging health crises, transparency and scientific integrity must be upheld and not suppressed.

ASPPH continues to advocate for the immediate restoration of these essential public health resources and urges the administration to prioritize data access and research integrity for the safety and well-being of all Americans.

We also urge our members to continue to advocate for access to this critical national data.