Redacting America

Is Our Government Data and Information Being Skewed to Fit a Right Wing Agenda?

History

On March 27th, Donald Trump issued an executive order titled “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,” aimed at thwarting efforts in the past decade to “rewrite” history for ideological agendas rather than basing it on facts and truth. In it, he singled out prestigious institutions, such as the Smithsonian Museum and The National Museum of African American History and Culture, that he claims are “subjected to ideological indoctrination.” 

In reality, these institutions are presenting honest, fact-based accounts of America’s past—including its violence and injustices. By contrast, the Trump Administration seeks to erase or diminish these truths, framing historical accuracy as divisive.

This effort has extended beyond rhetoric. Trump's broader purge of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts in federal institutions has led to the erasure of prominent minority figures from some of the nation's most pivotal moments, including:

• Jackie Robinson: In March, Trump came under fire after Jackie Robinson’s webpage honoring his service in WWII was removed from the Pentagon’s website. Although the page was later restored, and officials denied that it was racially motivated, when coupled with their repeated attacks against highlighting diversity within history, it is reasonable to assume that there is a correlation.

• Navajo Code Talkers: References to the Navajo Code Talkers, whose language was crucial for U.S. military communications in WWII, were also removed from the Pentagon’s website after being deemed part of DEI. Erasing their story not only diminishes a critical military contribution but also sidelines the role of Indigenous people in defending a nation that has long marginalized them.

For generations, diversity was seen as one of America's greatest strengths. However, to the Trump administration, diversity and inclusion are forces of weakness, causing further social division rather than unity. As citizens and voters, it's up to us to restore the digestion of real truth and history to our country, which includes diversity and inclusion.

Healthcare

The Trump administration’s removal of thousands of federal health datasets, including those on maternal mortality, HIV, and chronic illness, has disproportionately harmed states like Georgia, where healthcare outcomes already rank among the worst in the nation. Georgia has the highest number of counties—83 out of 159—in the bottom national quartile for health outcomes, affecting over 2.4 million residents. The state also faces alarming maternal mortality rates, with 89% of pregnancy-related deaths between 2018 and 2020 deemed preventable. 

Access to comprehensive, disaggregated health data is essential for identifying disparities and deploying targeted interventions. Without it, policymakers and healthcare providers are left navigating blind spots, risking ineffective or inequitable solutions. 

While the Georgia Legislature has taken steps toward transparency, such as introducing Senate Bill 131 to establish a public database of healthcare professionals, these efforts have fallen short without robust federal data. Understandably, the absence of critical information hampers the state's ability to address its healthcare challenges effectively.

In a state already grappling with high uninsured rates, limited access to care, and stark health disparities, the federal data purge exacerbates existing issues. Restoring and safeguarding access to comprehensive health data is imperative to inform policy decisions and improve health outcomes for all Georgians.

The Environment

Climate change is one of the most urgent challenges we face, and yet Trump treats efforts to address it as unnecessary and even harmful to the U.S. economy. He pulled the U.S. out of the Paris Climate Agreement, claiming the global pact to reduce greenhouse gas emissions was unfair to American workers. He also rolled back over 100 environmental regulations, including clean air, clean water, and wildlife protections.

One of the biggest targets was the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Trump administration cut the EPA’s funding and staff significantly, limiting its ability to enforce environmental laws. They also removed climate data from government websites, making it harder for the public and scientists to access information about environmental changes. In some cases, staff were even instructed not to use the term "climate change" in official documents. On top of that, the administration pushed back against state and local governments trying to enforce their climate policies, arguing that such regulations hurt businesses.

So, what does all this mean for people? It’s not just about the environment—it’s about public health, safety, and justice. Many of the weakened or cut programs were designed to protect communities already at greater risk from environmental harm, like low-income neighborhoods and communities of color. These areas are often located near factories, highways, or other pollution sources, and they don’t always have the resources to recover from things like floods, heat waves, or toxic spills.

Without strong environmental protections, pollution goes unchecked, and those communities suffer the most, facing higher rates of asthma, contaminated water, and extreme weather impacts. The rollback of climate initiatives didn’t just slow progress on sustainability—it deepened existing inequalities and put the health of millions at risk.