The Vanishing Act of Government Web Pages: A Digital Preservation Crisis

The Mass Removal of Critical Government Data

In recent months, the White House has orchestrated the removal of thousands of government web pages, erasing critical policies and information related to topics such as sexual orientation, the January 6 Capitol breach, and discrimination. This digital purge, which began shortly after President Donald Trump’s second inauguration, has left many federal agencies’ websites stripped of essential content. While it is not unusual for presidential administrations to update or remove outdated information, the scale of this removal is unprecedented. Mark Graham, the director of the Wayback Machine, notes that the scope of the content being taken offline this time is significantly greater than in previous administration transitions.

Among the pages removed are those from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which were taken down in January but partially restored following a federal judge’s order. Other affected websites include the Justice Department’s pages related to the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack, information on transgender patient care from Healthcare.gov, and pages on gender diversity and discrimination from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), and Census Bureau. These removals have raised concerns about the accessibility of vital information and the transparency of government actions.

The Role of the Wayback Machine in Preserving Digital History

The Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine has emerged as a critical tool in the fight to preserve digital information. This nonprofit service allows users to archive and view snapshots of web pages from various points in time, dating back to 1996. By entering a URL, users can access archived versions of the page, even if the original has been altered or removed. The Wayback Machine’s crawlers—automated computer programs—scour the web to collect and save pages, creating a digital repository of over 916 billion web pages.

In addition to its automated archiving, the Wayback Machine also enables manual preservation through its “Save Page Now” feature, allowing individuals to ensure that specific pages are archived before they disappear. The Internet Archive collaborates with partners like the Environmental Data & Governance Initiative (EDGI) and Stanford University Libraries to maintain the End of Term archive, which captures government content at the end of each presidential term. These efforts highlight the importance of proactive archiving in preserving digital records for future generations.

The Challenges of Digital Preservation

Digital preservation is a complex and ongoing challenge. Unlike physical materials, such as books, which are printed in multiple copies and remain unchanged once published, digital content is inherently fragile. Web pages can be altered or removed without warning, and their URLs—essentially digital addresses—do not guarantee permanent access to the content they point to. As Mark Graham explains, “It’s like your house address. Ten years ago, someone else lived there. How would you know that? All you know is the address.” This ephemeral nature of digital information underscores the need for robust archiving mechanisms.

Researchers like Rebecca Frank, an assistant professor at the University of Michigan’s School of Information, emphasize that preserving digital information requires more than just archiving. It demands active efforts to ensure that the information remains findable, accessible, and usable over time. The Pew Research Center has reported that nearly 40% of webpages available in 2013 were no longer accessible a decade later, highlighting the alarming rate of digital decay. This crisis is compounded by the fact that government websites often contain critical records and data that are essential for public knowledge and accountability.

Grassroots Efforts to Save Critical Data

In response to the recent wave of government website removals, grassroots organizations and academic institutions have stepped up their efforts to preserve digital information. For instance, the Harvard Law Library Innovation Center released an archive of data.gov, a government site providing public research datasets from 2024 and 2025. Tools like Perma.CC, which allows users to create permanent URLs for archived pages, have also gained traction as individuals and organizations work to safeguard vulnerable content.

EDGI, a coalition of activists and researchers, has been particularly active in preserving environmental data and tools that were removed from government websites. Shortly after Trump’s inauguration, EDGI and its partners archived a digital tool that highlighted areas in the U.S. disproportionately affected by pollution. These efforts demonstrate the power of collaboration in addressing the digital preservation crisis. As Gretchen Gehrke, co-founder of EDGI, notes, “We’re mobilizing resources to archive critical federal data.” Such initiatives serve as a testament to the collective responsibility of preserving public information.

Why Digital Preservation Matters

The removal of government web pages raises fundamental questions about transparency, accountability, and the public’s right to information. Digital records are not just ephemeral data points; they are historical artifacts that document the actions and policies of governments. As Rebecca Frank puts it, “So much of what happens in the world is digital, and those records are sometimes government records, sometimes research data. But they’re valuable, and we should take care of them.”

In an era where misinformation and disinformation are rampant, preserving accurate and accessible digital records becomes even more critical. These records serve as a foundation for informed decision-making, academic research, and public oversight. Without them, the public’s ability to hold institutions accountable is severely diminished.

A Call to Action for Digital Preservation

The recent wave of government website removals has underscored the urgency of digital preservation. While tools like the Wayback Machine and grassroots initiatives are helping to fill the gap, long-term solutions require systemic changes. Johnny Hadlock, executive director of the National Association of Government Archives & Records Administrators, stresses that government agencies must proactively incorporate archiving into their workflows to protect their online presence.

For individuals, this means recognizing the value of digital information and taking steps to preserve it. Whether through using archiving tools, supporting organizations like the Internet Archive, or advocating for transparency in government, everyone has a role to play in safeguarding our digital heritage. The battle to preserve government web pages is not just about saving data—it’s about protecting the integrity of public knowledge and ensuring that future generations can learn from the past.

By addressing the challenges of digital preservation and working together to create robust archives, we can build a more resilient and transparent digital landscape. In doing so, we not only preserve history but also strengthen the foundations of democracy and accountability.