What Are the Words Banned by the Trump Administration - and How They Affected Government Messaging

A sweeping censorship policy under the Trump administration has come to light, revealing how hundreds of words and phrases were banned or flagged across several US federal agencies. From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to NASA and the Department of Defence, officials were reportedly instructed to avoid terms related to diversity, gender, climate change, and public health. According to PEN America’s latest 2025 data, this language suppression shaped grant applications, internal reports, and public communication.