Hundreds of organizations representing scientists, medical professionals and public health advocates say they are deeply concerned about reports that Trump administration officials have reportedly banned the use of certain words by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention staff.

The Washington Post reported that CDC and other Health and Human Services had censored words such as "diversity," "science-based," "fetus" and "transgender" in budget reports. The agency has since responded that the newspaper mischaracterized its direction to staff regarding what language to use.

Various group have weighed in with concern. In a Dec. 19 letter, the American Association for the Advancement of Science and 45 other scientific organizations and universities encouraged Budget Director Mick Mulvaney to instruct federal agencies "to support the use of science in decision making and to support the scientists who produce the knowledge upon which the nation's economy relies."

"The selection, removal or replacement of scientific information for ideological or political reasons compromises the integrity of the process of receiving scientific advice," the groups said. http://bit.ly/2kYhJs9

In a separate statement, the presidents of the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineers and National Academy of Medicine said that, if true, the censorship "will have a chilling effect on U.S. researchers."

"Although the guidance to CDC staff to not use certain words reportedly pertained to budget documents, it also sends a dangerous message that CDC's broader research and public health mission could be unduly politicized as well," the three presidents said. http://bit.ly/2BmxKz8

More recently, 315 public health groups sent a letter to administration officials warning any restriction on language could undermine the CDC's responses to public-health crises both home and abroad, the Washington Post reported Thursday. The American Lung Association and American Academy of Pediatrics were among the signatories.

"Science is the bedrock of sound public health and medical decision-making—and it should not be subject to partisan politics," the groups said. http://wapo.st/2BPZ0ac

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