Trump Administration Expands 'Banned Words List' Across Federal Agencies
PEN America reports the list of scrubbed terms has grown to over 350, targeting climate science and DEI.
The Trump administration is systematically scrubbing hundreds of words and phrases from federal government websites and official documents. This expanding effort to reshape government discourse targets critical topics including public health, climate change, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
According to documentation by PEN America, the list of prohibited terms grew from more than 250 in early 2025 to over 350 by late 2025. The crackdown has reached deep into the federal bureaucracy, with specific directives issued to agency staff to purge these terms from public-facing materials and internal communications.
Targeted Science and Sustainability
Certain agencies have faced more stringent requirements. The Department of Energy (DOE) specifically instructed its employees to avoid using terms such as "climate change," "green," and "sustainable." These directives effectively remove the primary vocabulary used to describe environmental science and renewable energy initiatives from the agency's official output.
An Ideological Shift
This linguistic purge is part of a broader "anti-woke" ideological shift within the current administration. The goal is to remove references to social, environmental, and health-related issues from official government communications. This shift extends beyond word lists; it has also manifested in the shuttering of federal websites that previously provided essential data on extreme weather and sea level rise.
Implications for Public Information
Free expression advocates and critics argue that the administration is engaging in a "chilling act of censorship," according to PEN America. By removing the language used to describe specific societal and scientific realities, advocates claim the government is restricting its own ability to communicate factual information about critical public issues. The concern is that such measures attempt to make these realities "unthinkable" by erasing the terminology required to discuss them.
Future Outlook
As the list of banned terms continues to grow, observers are watching for further directives across other federal departments. It remains to be seen how these restrictions will impact the transparency of government data and the ability of federal scientists to report findings that conflict with the administration's ideological goals.