White House replaces covid.gov website with ‘lab leak’ theory

Tech Crunch - Apr 18th, 2025

Under President Trump's administration, the government-run website covid.gov, which previously provided information about COVID-19 vaccines, testing, and treatment, now redirects to a White House page promoting an unproven theory that the virus originated from a Chinese laboratory. This theory has been widely disputed by virologists and was initially presented in a report by House Republicans. The report suggested a lab leak in China was the pandemic's origin, a claim countered by House Democrats who argued the investigation was inconclusive. Additionally, the covidtests.gov site, once a resource for ordering free COVID-19 tests, now leads to the same page. This new site also disseminates medical misinformation, challenging the effectiveness of proven measures like social distancing and mask mandates in curbing the virus's spread.

In the months since Trump's return to the presidency, several government websites have been altered to align with the administration's agenda. This includes efforts, reportedly assisted by Elon Musk's DOGE, to excise terms related to diversity from official documents, such as "Black," "disability," "diversity," and "gender." Furthermore, references to scientifically-acknowledged climate change have been removed from environmental websites, indicating a broader shift in governmental communication strategies. The implications of these changes are significant, potentially influencing public perception and policy regarding both the pandemic and broader social issues.

Covid 19 Elon Musk Climate Change Trump Administration Lab Leak Theory Diversity Government Websites Medical Misinformation

Story submitted by Fairstory

RATING

6.0

Moderately Fair

Read with skepticism

The article provides a timely and relevant examination of changes to government websites under the Trump administration, focusing on the promotion of the lab leak theory and alleged misinformation about COVID-19. While it accurately reports on the redirection of covid.gov and covidtests.gov, it lacks balance by not adequately representing opposing viewpoints or providing comprehensive source attribution. The narrative is clear and accessible, but the absence of transparency and detailed source quality affects the overall credibility. Despite these shortcomings, the article addresses significant public interest issues with the potential to influence opinion and provoke discussion, particularly regarding government transparency and public health communication.

Accuracy

The story presents several claims that are factually accurate, such as the redirection of the covid.gov and covidtests.gov websites to a White House page promoting the lab leak theory. This is supported by verified information that these websites were indeed replaced with content reflecting the Trump administration's stance on COVID-19 origins. However, the claim about the White House website containing medical disinformation regarding the ineffectiveness of social distancing and mask mandates is not directly supported by the sources, although the scientific consensus does affirm the effectiveness of these measures. Additionally, the story's assertion about the removal of diversity-related language and climate change mentions lacks supporting evidence, indicating potential inaccuracies or exaggerations.

Balance

The article leans towards a critical view of the Trump administration's actions, particularly in its portrayal of changes to government websites and the promotion of the lab leak theory. While it provides context about the Republican-led report supporting the lab leak theory, it does not equally represent opposing scientific views or the broader debate about COVID-19 origins, which would provide a more balanced perspective. The lack of voices from experts who might support the administration's actions, or at least provide alternative viewpoints, suggests a degree of bias.

Clarity

The article is generally clear and straightforward in its language and structure. It effectively communicates its main points and the timeline of events regarding the changes to the government websites. However, the narrative could benefit from a more organized presentation of evidence and counterarguments to enhance comprehension and provide a clearer picture of the broader context.

Source quality

The article does not cite specific sources or studies to back its claims, particularly regarding the alleged disinformation on the White House website and the removal of diversity-related language. This lack of attribution undermines the credibility of the claims. While the redirection of the covid.gov website is a verifiable fact, the absence of direct quotes or references from authoritative sources like government officials or scientific experts weakens the overall source quality.

Transparency

The article lacks transparency in terms of sourcing and methodology. It does not disclose how the information was obtained or whether there were attempts to reach out to the White House or other involved parties for comment. The absence of clear attribution for some of the more controversial claims, such as those regarding diversity language removal, leaves readers without a clear understanding of the basis for these assertions.