On Saturday a CDC official confirmed CDC officials were given “feedback” from higher ranks of the federal government at a recent meeting to reconsider certain language in draft budget documents. A spokesman at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees CDC, said in a statement that it’s a mischaracterization to say the CDC was banned from using certain words. That the agency could be censoring certain language sparked alarm and anger from some science and public health experts. HHS also strongly encourages the use of outcome and evidence data in program evaluations and budget decisions.”An HHS official did not respond to any additional questions. One medical leader from an outside agency, who works closely with CDC employees, said a CDC ban on certain words and terms may not be limited to budget documents.

Source: Washington Post December 17, 2017 00:39 UTC