A federal judge ruled in favour of Doctors for America (DFA) and the City and County of San Francisco in their lawsuit challenging the removal of important health information from government websites. The removal of key webpages and datasets created a dangerous gap in the scientific data available to monitor and respond to disease outbreaks, deprived physicians of resources that guide clinical practice, and took away key resources for communicating and engaging with patients.
The court order requires restoration of webpages on which DFA and San Francisco relied and vacates the Office of Personnel Management and Department of Health and Human Services policies that led to the webpage removals.
“The court found that the government violated the law when it took down important health information that physicians and other public health professionals rely on to keep all of us healthy,” said Zach Shelley, a Public Citizen Litigation Group attorney and lead counsel on the case. “The decision serves as a reminder that the government must follow the law, just like the rest of us.”
“It is heartening to see that the court agrees with doctors, researchers, and patients that the government cannot unlawfully and without explanation remove crucial health information and datasets. With this ruling, we can provide care for our patients and protect public health based on evidence, rather than ideology,” said Dr. Reshma Ramachandran, member of the board of directors of Doctors for America.
Source: Doctors for America, 3 July 2025
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