Washington DC [US], February 12 (HBTV): After a federal judge ordered the restoration of web pages removed under President Trump's executive order on gender ideology, US Senator Mike Lee from Utah criticised the decision, calling it an ‘unprecedented assault on legitimate presidential authority’ and labelling it ‘absurd’ for judges to dictate which government web pages should exist.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk also responded to the senator's post, calling the development ‘truly absurd.’

‘These judges are waging an unprecedented assault on legitimate presidential authority, all the way down to dictating what web pages the government has. This is absurd,’ Lee posted.

The ruling was issued by US District Judge John Bates, who granted a temporary restraining order sought by the group Doctors for America. The nonprofit organization argued that its members relied on the removed web pages for treating patients and conducting research. According to CBS News, the group claimed that the removal of the web pages by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and its agencies violated federal law.

Judge Bates determined that the challengers were likely to succeed in their argument that HHS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had violated the law by taking down medical information from public websites.

On his first day in office, President Trump signed an executive order affirming that the United States recognises only two sexes—male and female—and directing federal agencies to remove any materials that promote or support gender ideology.

Following this directive, the Office of Personnel Management issued a memorandum requiring all agencies to take down all websites, social media accounts, and other public-facing content that ‘inculcate or promote gender ideology’ by 5 pm on January 31.

In compliance with the memo, the CDC and FDA took offline multiple web pages and data sets, including recommendations for treating sexually transmitted infections and adult immunization guidance, according to CBC News.

(ANI)