Amid Executive Actions, Trump Administration Asks Health Agencies to Pause External Communications
The Trump administration has issued a directive to federal health agencies to pause all external communications, including regular scientific reports, updates to websites, and health advisories. The order was given to staff at agencies within the US Department of Health and Human Services, including the US Food and Drug Administration, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and National Institutes of Health.
The directive was delivered to agency staff without warning and with little guidance as to what exactly it covered, according to sources inside the affected agencies. One source said that the reason for the pause and its duration were not communicated. The scope of the order appears to be unusual, as it affects the flow of information on food recalls, drug and medical device approvals, and updates on evolving public health threats.
The direction was given by Stefanie Spear, a deputy chief of staff at HHS who joined the agency this week. The order has sparked concerns among health experts, with one saying that a temporary pause in the flow of health information should not be cause for concern, but emphasized that the enforcement of the pause is crucial to prevent lost lives.
The health agencies affected by the order include those that are closely tracking and reporting new information on the H5N1 bird flu outbreak, which is spreading in the nation’s poultry flocks and dairy cattle and among people who work with those animals. The administration has yet to comment on the order, and the health agencies have referred CNN to HHS for comment.
