President Donald Trump has implemented a freeze on external communications from several key federal health agencies, according to multiple sources. The directive, which took effect on Tuesday, impacts major agencies including the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and National Institutes of Health (NIH).
The communication freeze encompasses a wide range of external communications, including:
- Health advisories and guidance documents
- Press releases and public announcements
- Social media posts and website updates
- Scientific reports, including the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report
- Data releases from the National Center for Health Statistics
- Updates to the Federal Register
According to an internal memo obtained by the Associated Press, acting HHS Secretary Dorothy Fink informed agency leaders that an “immediate pause” has been mandated on these communications until they receive approval from a political appointee. The freeze is set to remain in effect until at least February 1, 2025.
It remains unclear whether urgent communications related to foodborne disease outbreaks, drug approvals, and new bird flu cases will be affected.
This action has raised concerns among public health experts and officials, who worry about the potential impact on public safety and health information dissemination. The freeze affects critical public health information channels, including updates on the ongoing H5N1 avian influenza outbreak and FDA drug approvals and safety announcements.
While some argue that brief pauses during leadership transitions are not uncommon, others warn that extended communication freezes could have serious consequences for public health.
The Trump administration has stated that the pause is intended to help new health officials better understand the extensive output of health-related information. However, the directive has drawn parallels to previous attempts to control health agency communications during Trump’s first term, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
