Judge orders Trump admin. to restore CDC and FDA webpages by midnight

[justaprogressive]

A federal judge today, February 11, gave the Trump administration until 11:59 pm tonight to restore public documents and datasets that were abruptly removed or altered from federal health websites to comply with an executive order on gender ideology.

Information was taken down from websites for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration following a January 29 memo from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). The memo ordered all agencies to remove any public-facing media that "inculcate or promote gender ideology" that would violate an executive order President Trump signed on January 20. OPM gave agencies until just January 31 to comply.

The webpages that were subsequently removed include key guidance and data on health risks in youth, school health policies, social vulnerability, environmental justice, HIV testing and prevention, assisted reproductive technologies, contraceptives, and recommendations for improving clinical studies, among other essential information.

In a lawsuit filed February 4, the nonprofit organization Doctors for America, represented by consumer advocacy group Public Citizen, claimed that the documents and data removed were critical for research and the efficient care of patients. Further, they were taken down without warning and reasoned decision-making, violating the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) and Administrative Procedure Act (APA).

In an opinion and order Tuesday, US District Judge John D. Bates agreed, issuing a temporary restraining order that requires the CDC, FDA, and their parent agency the Department of Health and Human Services to restore the specific websites Doctors for America list in their Memorandum of Law (pages 6 through 12) to their January 30 versions by midnight. Additionally, the agencies must work with the doctors to identify any additional resources they rely on and restore those by February 14. The information will remain available online while the lawsuit proceeds.

https://arstechnica.com/health/2025/02/cdc-and-fda-have-until-tonight-to-restore-webpages-court-rules/

[surfered]

1. Or what?

[MineralMan]

6. That remains to be seen, doesn't it.

Meanwhile, we have a good ruling. Let's not attack the courts for making good rulings, OK?

I don't think you can do what that court did. Can you? So, what is your answer to all of this? Let the courts do their thing.

[Daleuhlmann]

11. Yes, You Can Do "What the Court Did"

The Constitution is very clear about the federal courts' legal right and duty to act as a check and a balance on the executive branch's power, despite groundless opposing arguments by Trump puppets like J. D. .Vance.

[surfered]

13. I agree the courts are working, but how do they enforce an order if the Administration doesn't comply.

The U S Marshals fall under DOJ, and AG Bondi. What if Trump days f**k you? What do the courts do then?

[MineralMan]

15. I can't answer that question.

We are going to find out, though, I believe.

This is going to be a process, and it might be one that takes time. We need the courts to make their rulings, though. Those rulings will be what underpins actions that are taken.

Be patient, and encourage the courts to rule in line with the Constitution.

[surfered]

16. If US Marshals are prevented from enforcing the court orders,

…the ultimate fall back is impeachment. But who thinks the GOP will impeach their Dear Leader?

[Tickle]

2. did they do it? nt

[justaprogressive]

8. looks like!

https://www.cdc.gov/

[Meowmee]

14. But now it says

“CDC's website is being modified to comply with President Trump's Executive Orders.”

So it is not the same. Many published works were removed and scientists were warning each other to remove/ back up their work there.

I suspect that part of it is they’re trying to cover up past data about Covid, etc., and many other diseases, and anything else that doesn’t show them in a favorable light or that they don’t like for whatever reason.

[a kennedy]

3. Yah, or what???

and seriously what legally can they do?? Send them to jail for contempt?? Who’s gonna do that? What body of “police or security, or the military”? Who??

[MineralMan]

5. Well, that is what the court can do. It can order something to happen.

At least that court did that. We should be praising the court for doing so.

Scoffing at the ruling is just plain stupid on our part.

Let's not be stupid, OK?

[HereForTheParty]

7. I don't think anyone here is criticizing the ruling

They are understandably wondering how it is going to be enforced if necessary

[MineralMan]

9. Nope. They're spreading FUD.

Why on Earth would we not be praising courts for doing what courts do in this case? Makes zero sense.

I'm getting sick of the constant barrage of doom-saying. We have cases in court, and the courts are ruling exactly as they should. Each time that happens, it reinforces what is right, rather than what Trump wants.

It's especially annoying when posters don't even try to offer any other action that might be taken. Courts rule on laws, and order people and agencies to follow the laws. That is what they do. We cannot ask them to do more, since they have no power to do more. Instead, we should thank them for ruling properly while under pressure.

[Daleuhlmann]

10. Look for a Constitutional Crisis Like We Haven't Seen Since the Days of Andrew Jackson!

Last edited Wed Feb 12, 2025, 03:23 PM - Edit history (1)

If the government has defied the order, the judge will hold the Trump Administration in Contempt of Court. Punishment could start with escalating fines for each day the government continues to defy the order, and/or with jail, not for the president, due to his SCOTUS protection, but certainly for Musk and his staff. If Trump decides to oppose these measures by requesting that the DOJ send in federal marshals to arrest this judge, there would be a Constitutional crisis that would have to be settled by the Supreme Court.

[Wuddles440]

4. And just wait for the...

'thrill' (i.e. chill) when Junior and Ka$h get confirmed. That swirling sound you may be hearing is this nation going down the toilet and into the great cesspool of history.

[Hugin]

12. Government by injunction is a hell of a way to run a railroad.

I was just reading the depressing statistics about how few litigants have directly benefited from the case law precedent that their cases led to being entered in the books.

Oddly enough, some of the exceptions to the rule have been George W. Bush, once and Donald J. Trump, twice.

[malaise]

17. THIS

Rec