Visitors to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website have been encountering redirection notices as the agency undertakes a significant overhaul of its online presence. These changes, which began impacting access to public health information in late January 2025, involve moving content to new locations, including archive.cdc.gov. The CDC is automatically redirecting users to the latest URLs, or providing a link for manual redirection, and advising individuals to update any saved bookmarks.
This isn’t a sudden event, but rather a continuation of a process that has been unfolding for some time. According to reports from , these reorganizations are common as the CDC responds to evolving health threats and refines its information architecture. However, the shifts can disrupt access for individuals relying on direct links, particularly those found in older reports, publications, or personal bookmarks. Maintaining accurate links to CDC resources is essential for effective public health communication.
The agency is consolidating content and migrating information as part of this process. Users will typically be automatically redirected within 10 seconds, or can click a provided link to proceed immediately. The CDC encourages users to update any existing bookmarks to reflect these changes. These website redirections are a standard technique for managing URLs and ensuring continued access to information even after a website’s structure changes, as explained by the Mozilla Developer Network. HTTP redirects utilize specific response codes to guide browsers to new locations.
While the current changes appear focused on streamlining access and ensuring users are directed to the most current and accurate resources, it’s important to acknowledge that previous disruptions to the CDC website have raised concerns. A report from , detailed how several pages on the CDC website were temporarily offline, coinciding with a move by the Trump administration to remove language related to gender identity and LGBTQ issues from government communications. Pages on topics such as Health Disparities Among LGBTQ Youth, interim clinical considerations for Mpox prevention, and HIV and transgender people were among those affected. Data from the CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System and the Health Equity Guiding Principles for Inclusive Communication page were also unavailable for a period.
That earlier situation stemmed from an executive order stating the federal government would only recognize an individual’s “immutable biological classification” as either male or female, and that gender identity could not be recognized as a replacement for sex. This led to a directive to remove all outward-facing media that promoted or reflected “gender ideology.” While the current website updates appear to be focused on technical reorganization and improved accessibility, the past experience underscores the importance of maintaining transparency and consistent access to public health information.
The CDC’s website is a critical resource for public health data, guidelines, and safety advisories. The need to ensure that this information remains readily available and easily accessible is paramount. The agency’s move to consolidate content and migrate information to archive.cdc.gov is intended to streamline this process. However, the potential for disruption highlights the challenges inherent in maintaining a large and frequently updated website.
For users who rely on direct links to specific CDC pages, the automatic redirection feature, with its 10-second delay or immediate manual option, is designed to minimize inconvenience. Updating bookmarks is also strongly advised. The CDC’s efforts to manage these changes reflect a broader trend in website management, where regular updates and reorganizations are necessary to keep pace with evolving information and user needs.
The ongoing changes at the CDC website serve as a reminder of the dynamic nature of online information and the importance of verifying the accuracy and currency of sources. While the CDC is working to ensure a smooth transition, users should be aware of the potential for temporary disruptions and take steps to update their bookmarks and links accordingly. The ultimate goal is to provide the public with the most current and reliable public health information possible, and these website updates are a step towards achieving that goal.
