The Trump administration has instructed federal health agencies to pause all external communications, such as health advisories, weekly scientific reports, updates to websites and social media posts, according to nearly a dozen current and former officials and other people familiar with the matter.
The instructions were delivered Tuesday to staff at agencies inside the Department of Health and Human Services, including the Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health, one day after the new administration took office, according to the people with knowledge, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe private conversations. Some of them acknowledged that they expected some review during a presidential transition but said they were confused by the pause’s scope and indeterminate length.
In a follow-up memo obtained by CNN on Wednesday, Acting Health Secretary Dr. Dorothy Fink provided additional details, including that the directive would be in effect through February 1.
The memo told health agency employees to have all documents and communications – including regulations, guidance, notices, social media, websites and press releases – reviewed and approved by a presidential appointee before issuing them. It also directed employees not to participate in any public speaking engagements without approval, and to coordinate with presidential appointees before issuing official correspondence to members of Congress or governors.
— CNN
Sources:
- January 21, 2025. Lena H. Sun, Dan Diamond, and Rachel Roubein. “Trump Officials Pause Health Agencies’ Communications, Citing Review.” Washington Post, sec. Health.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/01/21/trump-hhs-cdc-fda-communication-pause/.
News. - January 22, 2025. Brenda Goodman and Meg Tirrell. “Trump Administration Directs Federal Health Agencies to Pause Communications.” CNN.
https://www.cnn.com/2025/01/21/health/hhs-cdc-fda-trump-pause-communication/index.html.
News.