As millions of Americans face another intense heatwave, access to federal guidance on staying cool while saving energy has diminished. A Guardian analysis found that at least 1,662 Department of Energy webpages providing advice on protecting the electrical grid during heatwaves were removed by July 3, according to data from the Internet Archive, a nonprofit archiving over a trillion webpages.

These deletions align with the Trump administration’s recent efforts to roll back federal climate regulations. On July 2, the administration announced a proposal to weaken energy efficiency standards for home appliances such as air conditioners and heaters. At least 18 webpages were removed within days of this proposed rollback.

Andrew deLaski, executive director of the Appliance Standards Awareness Project—a coalition advocating for cost-effective efficiency standards—emphasized the importance of air conditioning for vulnerable populations, stating, “Having a functioning air conditioner is a health and safety issue for the elderly, for folks with health conditions, and for the very young.” He also described the efficiency program as “a real success story,” noting that it has reduced strain on the electrical grid and lowered utility bills.

While the exact timing of the webpage deletions is unclear, several outlets observed that they occurred shortly after New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani encouraged residents to set air conditioners to 78 degrees to ease grid demand.

More than 300 of the removed webpages had accumulated over 160,000 pageviews in the previous 30 days, according to web traffic data analyzed by the Guardian from the US General Services Administration.

These removals are part of a broader pattern of federal information being taken down when it conflicts with the administration’s priorities, including data on queer and trans youth and resources from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

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