#203 Silenced and Sidelined? Not on Our Watch

The workshop I was scheduled to deliver today has been postponed—and possibly cancelled—because, as I was told, “Women’s networks may become illegal in the USA.” The reasoning? Women’s networks are not considered inclusive. As you will see below, that explanation contains two words—'women' and 'inclusive'—which have already been banned under the Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing executive order.

I shouldn’t have been surprised. Attacks on science and evidence-based policymaking have escalated to a level unseen in our lifetimes. I have watched in alarm as my American counterparts face this crisis, feeling unsure of how to help. But I hadn’t fully grasped the global implications—until it landed on my own doorstep. If you think this doesn’t affect you, think again.

A Systematic Rollback of Rights and Research

Since 20 January 2025, 65 executive orders have been signed, stripping protections for immigrants and the environment, dismantling diversity and civil rights initiatives, and severely restricting access to critical public health, education, and scientific information.

In a desperate attempt to purge Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) from American life, the National Science Foundation is censoring research, removing published studies, and revoking funding for projects that include certain terms now deemed unacceptable under the anti-DEI order. The worldview underpinning these decisions assumes that straight, white men are the ‘default’ human and thus require no scrutiny. Any other identity is seen as inherently suspect.

To illustrate the scale and impact, here is the full list of words now banned in this context:

Activism, activists, advocacy, advocate, barriers, biased, bias, black and Latinx, community diversity, cultural differences, disabilities, discrimination, diverse backgrounds, diverse groups, diversity and inclusion, equality, equitable, equity, ethnicity, excluded, female, fostering inclusivity, gender, gender diversity, hate speech, Hispanic minority, historically, implicit bias, inclusion, indigenous community, inequalities, institutional, LGBT, marginalised, minorities, multicultural, oppression, political, prejudice, promoting diversity, race and ethnicity, racial, racial justice, racism, sense of belonging, sexual preferences, social justice, socioeconomic status, stereotypes, systemic, underrepresented, victim, women, transgender, climate change, greenhouse gas emissions.

The Erasure of Science and Inclusion

The American Society for Microbiology—an international organisation—has erased the term ‘equity’ from its website. NASA has removed references to women in leadership and Indigenous communities, and even deleted a feature about geologist Wendy Bohon just weeks after Trump took office (though it has since been reinstated). Meanwhile, the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) has begun terminating research grants that no longer align with ‘agency priorities’.

Scientific research on transgender populations, gender identity, DEI, environmental justice, and climate change is being systematically dismantled by political ideology. Even ongoing clinical trials for cancer research have been paused. Networks promoting women’s interests in STEM have been paused—with GSK being the first British company to comply—and employee resource groups have been shut down.

What changes are happening within your own organisation—perhaps without your knowledge?

The Wider Impact

This isn’t just about DEI. The rollback of environmental protections, the deregulation of financial industries, and restrictions on vaccines and public health initiatives will have global consequences. Scientists fear the loss of talent due to the tens of thousands of job cuts, loss of data, the devaluation of past research, the spread of misinformation, and the removal of critical topics from education.

We must bear witness to what is happening, rebuild the very communities being dismantled, and resist the normalisation of these changes.

What Can You Do?

1. Find Out What’s Happening

• Investigate what changes have already taken place within your organisation and what is planned.
• Ask questions. Don’t assume this won’t affect you.

2. Don’t Stay Silent

• Share your findings widely. Forming coalitions of opposition can be highly effective.
• Contact your elected representatives. Explain how these policies affect you and your work.
• Reach out to local newspapers. Scientists and professionals must highlight how their work benefits society—and what is at stake if it is undermined.
• If your research has been impacted by these policies, follow the guidance here: Are the Trump team’s actions affecting your research? How to contact Nature

3. Track and Measure Change

• What gets measured gets improved. If a women’s network is axed, and within a year female leadership drops by 25%, that’s tangible evidence of cause and effect.

4. Take Further Action

• Sign the Declaration To Defend Research Against Government Censorship - Google Docs
• Thanks to 500 Women Scientists, Review Action Lab: Gallery View - Airtable for further steps you can take.
• Vote with your wallet. Check where your pension or savings are invested. Boycott brands linked to fossil fuels and Trump’s administration—such as Chevron, ExxonMobil, Tesla, Meta, and Starlink to name a few. Support ethical investing and local businesses instead.

A Global Fight

This goes beyond national borders—it’s a global, environmental, and humanitarian battle. Doing nothing is not an option.

As always, my inbox is open—I’m just an email away.

Keep Opening Up,

Hannah

As founder of Intentional Careers?, author of Intentional Careers for STEM Women and host of a top 5% global podcast, Women in STEM Career & Confidence, Dr Hannah Roberts is an award-winning coach on a mission to eradicate inequity in the workplace by guiding professionals to design careers for fulfilment with a mindset for leadership to build progressive workplace cultures where every individual feels valued.

References

1. https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/ending-radical-and-wasteful-government-dei-programs-and-preferencing/
2. https://500womenscientists.org/updates/2025/2/27/dear-scientists-we-stand-with-you-and-for-you
3. https://gizmodo.com/the-list-of-trumps-forbidden-words-that-will-get-your-paper-flagged-at-nsf-2000559661
4. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-00372-0
5. https://www.chron.com/news/space/article/nasa-dei-website-20146613.php
6. https://uk.news.yahoo.com/fact-check-nasa-scrubbed-website-235300149.html
7. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-00703-1
8. https://www.oncology-central.com/what-do-trumps-nih-restrictions-mean-for-cancer-research/
9. https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/feb/28/uk-based-british-pharma-gsk-pauses-diversity-work-citing-trump-orders
10. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-00703-1
11. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-00703-1
12. https://www.newsweek.com/american-businesses-supporting-donating-donald-trump-list-2027957