Judge Issue Ruling On Trump Administration Website
A federal judge has ordered government agencies to restore public access to health-related webpages and datasets that were removed following an executive order by President Donald Trump. The ruling, issued by U.S. District Judge John Bates in Washington, grants a temporary restraining order sought by the advocacy group Doctors for America, which argued that the removals were obstructing critical medical research and patient care.
At the center of the dispute is Trump’s directive, signed on his first day back in the White House, requiring agencies to use the term “sex” rather than “gender” in federal policies and documents. In response, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) instructed agency heads to eliminate programs and take down websites promoting what it called “gender ideology.”
This led to the removal of key resources from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Incredible what lower court judges apparently have power over, isn’t it?
Now, they can tell the executive branch what to put on its own websites. https://t.co/gfTFIko9Dw
— Bonchie (@bonchieredstate) February 11, 2025
Doctors for America, represented by the Public Citizen Litigation Group, sued these agencies, citing the real-world consequences of the missing information. They pointed to two specific cases: a Chicago doctor who needed CDC resources to address a high school chlamydia outbreak and a Yale School of Medicine physician who relied on federal guidance for contraceptive care and sexually transmitted infections. The judge agreed that such removals made medical professionals’ jobs harder and potentially compromised patient care.
Bates ruled that these deletions could result in delayed treatment, hindered research, and limited access to critical public health information. He noted that the harm extends beyond medical professionals and ultimately affects “everyday Americans” who rely on their doctors for timely and informed care. The missing materials include HIV prevention reports, reproductive health guidance for clinicians, and an FDA study on sex differences in medical product evaluations.
Federal judge John Bates has ordered the Trump administration to restore HHS, CDC, and FDA websites providing information on sex change operations and gender ideology.
No federal judge can compel the government to assist in the mutilation and destruction of children. The Trump… pic.twitter.com/zTYZ0cRQjT
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) February 11, 2025
Government lawyers countered that the lawsuit failed to show clear evidence of irreparable harm, arguing that the case lacked sufficient legal merit. However, the judge was unconvinced, stating that the removals could have significant public health implications.
Doctors for America represents over 27,000 physicians and medical trainees. The organization has roots in an earlier group that advocated for healthcare reform and supported former President Barack Obama. Their legal challenge is among several lawsuits filed against executive orders Trump issued within hours of his second inauguration.