Federal Health Agencies Directed to Pause External Communications by Trump Administration

Sources within federal health agencies said that the Trump administration has directed them to pause external communications like regular scientific reports, website updates, and health advisories.

The Washington Post first reported this news on Tuesday.

A Jan. 22 article from CNN stated, “The initial orders were delivered Tuesday to staff at agencies inside the US Department of Health and Human Services [HHS], including to officials at the US Food and Drug Administration [FDA], the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC] and National Institutes of Health [NIH], according to the Washington Post, which first reported the story.”

The direction, according to the article, did not come with any warning and very little guidance as to what is covered (the sources from the CNN article requested not to be named as they were not authorized to share this information).

Another article from NPR said it had obtained a memo issued by the acting head of HHS, Dorothy Fink, MD, explaining that external communications should be paused “until such documents can be approved by ‘a presidential appointee.’”

All major outlets are reporting that this directive applies until Feb. 1.

The article from NPR quoted an anonymous federal official. The article said, “‘I look at what's going on as this administration coming in and getting their ducks in a row,’ said one federal official, who spoke to NPR on the condition that they not be named for fear their job could be at risk. ‘I think this will be temporary. How temporary? That remains to be seen. There are a lot of discussions going on right now.’”

Further, the article stated, “One HHS employee who spoke to NPR on condition of anonymity out of fear for their job said it was unclear whether their team would receive permission to post information they had planned to release this week.”

The CNN article also said that this directive informed employees to notify “higher-ups” of any communications that should be exempt due to being required by law or because they are essential for health, safety or other reasons.

On Jan. 22, the FDA issued a communication regarding a “rare but serious allergic reaction called anaphylaxis with the multiple sclerosis medicine glatiramer acetate (Copaxone, Glatopa).”

NBC News reported on Jan. 22 that “The delay could include several reports on bird flu that were set to be released Thursday by the CDC, one official said. That potential gap in reporting comes during an escalating outbreak of bird flu, also called H5N1.”

NBC also noted that scientists have taken to social media reporting that NIH has stopped approving funds for research grants.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Trump’s nominee to lead HHS, will have his confirmation hearing next Wednesday. The possibility of his confirmation by the Senate is still unclear.