Hundreds of US Government Websites Go Dark Amid Cost-Cutting Drive

Key federal websites, including USAID and CDC resources, vanish as Trump’s administration enforces radical budget cuts and policy shifts.

February 4, 2025: Washington: In a startling development, over 350 US government websites were offline on Monday, according to an AFP review of a list of nearly 1,400 federal sites provided by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). Notable absences included websites linked to key departments like Defense, Commerce, Energy, and the Central Intelligence Agency, as well as the Supreme Court.

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Among the affected was the website of USAID, the federal humanitarian agency running relief programs across 120 countries, which President Donald Trump’s administration has announced will be shut down. USAID employees were instructed via email not to report to their offices on Monday.

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Widespread Shutdowns

While the exact time the websites went offline remains unclear, the move coincides with the administration’s aggressive push to drastically downsize the federal government. Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, is spearheading cost-cutting efforts under the newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

Musk, who referred to USAID as a “criminal organization,” announced its closure as part of Trump’s broader efficiency campaign.

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LGBTQ and Public Health Resources Scrubbed

In a parallel development, several public health websites, including those operated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), have removed references to LGBTQ and HIV resources following Trump’s directive to eliminate taxpayer-funded programs promoting “gender ideology.” Landing pages on the CDC website now display messages stating: “The page you’re looking for was not found.”

The sudden removal of these resources has alarmed health experts. The Infectious Diseases Society of America voiced concerns, stating that “the removal of HIV- and LGBTQ-related resources creates a dangerous gap in scientific information and data to monitor and respond to disease outbreaks.”

These deletions come on the heels of other controversial moves, including executive orders banning diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives within the government.

The Fallout

The shutdown of these websites is being framed by critics as a blow to public access to crucial information, particularly in areas related to public health and safety. “Public access to resources on HIV, mpox, sexually transmitted infections, and other illnesses is especially important as these diseases threaten public health and impact the entire population,” the Infectious Diseases Society emphasized.

While some view these moves as part of Trump’s efficiency agenda, others see them as a dangerous erosion of government transparency and accountability.