Federal Government’s Growing Banned Words List Is Chilling Act of Censorship

Abstract

A growing list of words and materials are being scrubbed from government websites and documents in an attempt by the Trump administration to remove all references not only to diversity, equity and inclusion, but also to climate change, vaccines, and a host of other topics.
PEN America initially compiled a list of more than 250 words and phrases reportedly no longer considered acceptable by the Trump administration, from “abortion,” to “women,” and including “disability,” “elderly,” “Native American” and, unsurprisingly, the “Gulf of Mexico.”
The list has now expanded to 350+ words, encompassing even desirable goals like “safe drinking water,” the mention of which can result in research grants or other agreements with the federal government getting nixed.