Donald Trump's administration imposed an “immediate pause” on many communications from federal health agencies until they were approved by a political appointee.
President Donald Trump's administration has imposed a freeze on many federal health agencies' communications with the public until at least the end of the month.
In a memo obtained by The Associated PressDepartment of Health and Human Services Acting Secretary Dorothy Fink informed agency staff leaders Tuesday that an “immediate pause” had been ordered on — among other things — regulations, guidance, announcements, press releases , publications on social networks and on websites until such communications were approved by a political appointee.
The pause also applies to any matter intended for publication in the Federal Register, where the executive branch communicates rules and regulations, and the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, a scientific publication of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC).
The pause is in effect until February 1, according to the memo. Agencies subject to the directive include the CDC, the National Institutes of Health, and the Food and Drug Administration — entities that combat epidemics, protect the nation's food supply, and seek cures for diseases.
Health department officials did not respond to requests for comment. Four federal health officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter, confirmed the communication pause to the AP.
A former HHS official said Wednesday that it is not unusual for incoming administrations to pause agency communications for review. But typically, officials working on the president's transition team have the process ready on Inauguration Day.
“The executive branch is a hierarchy,” Steven Grossman, who now advises food and drug companies, said in an email. “Whether publicly stated or not, every new administration wants important commitments and positions to wait until new teams are in place and some semblance of hierarchy is restored.”
During his first term, Trump's political appointees attempted to take control of the CDC's MMWR journal, which had published information about the COVID-19 pandemic that conflicted with White House messaging.
Fink wrote in his memo that some exceptions would be made for communications affecting “critical health, safety, environmental, financial or national security functions,” but that these would be subject to review. The food agency on Tuesday and Wednesday published notices about warning letters sent to companies and a drug safety notice.