Doctors for America has filed a lawsuit against the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) over the removal of key health-related webpages and datasets. Represented by the Public Citizen Litigation Group, the nonprofit organization argues that these actions create a critical gap in scientific data, limiting physicians' ability to monitor disease outbreaks and provide evidence-based care. The lawsuit claims that the removal of resources impacts clinical research and public health policies, putting patient health at risk. The plaintiffs argue that the agencies did not provide proper notice before removing the materials and violated federal laws, including the Administrative Procedure Act and the Paperwork Reduction Act.
The complaint highlighted an OPM directive issued on January 29, which instructed federal agencies to take down content related to gender identity by January 31. Following this directive, agencies removed databases such as the Youth Risk Behavioral Surveillance System, CDC Contraceptive Guidance for Health Care Providers, and HIV prevention resources. The lawsuit seeks to have the removed materials reinstated and prevent future actions that could restrict public access to vital health information.
