The Biden administration’s staggering $267 million crusade against so-called “misinformation” is now a sobering chapter in government overreach. During Biden’s tenure, these taxpayer dollars were funneled through over ten federal agencies, not to promote public health but to suppress dissent and enforce partisan narratives.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) had received over $185 million of this funding to combat “health misinformation.” Defined by HHS as information deemed “false, inaccurate, or misleading” based on shifting standards of “best available evidence,” this term was weaponized against valid concerns about COVID-19 vaccines, public health measures, and alternative treatments. HHS even equated building a “healthier information environment” to providing clean air and water, a laughable justification for its censorship campaigns.
Biden’s administration had not stopped at COVID-related “misinformation.” It directed $80 million toward racial and ethnic “health equity” campaigns aimed at increasing vaccine compliance in specific demographics. These efforts, which often relied on community-based organizations, raised suspicions of political patronage rather than genuine public health outreach.
Even more absurd was the misuse of these funds for projects like $230,000 to combat “misinformation” about Bering Sea crab fisheries. Other agencies, including the State Department and Department of Defense, had also received millions for vaguely defined misinformation initiatives, revealing a scattershot approach that failed to address pressing national issues.
This campaign wasn’t about safeguarding public health—it was about silencing dissent and consolidating control. While inflation soared, the border crisis escalated, and Americans struggled with real-world challenges, Biden’s administration squandered taxpayer money on partisan narratives and failed policies.
As the Biden administration exits, its misuse of power and funds stands as a cautionary tale. Americans deserve leadership that respects free speech, addresses real problems, and refrains from using the federal government as a tool for ideological enforcement.
This post originally appeared at https://www.phyllisschlafly.com/constitution/free-speech/bidens-267-million-crusade-against-vaccine-misinformation/