Trump Administration Pauses Health Agencies' Communications Indefinitely Under HHS Directive

Jan 22, 2025, 03:08 AM

The Trump administration has directed federal health agencies, including the FDA, CDC, and NIH, to pause all external communications indefinitely. This includes health advisories, weekly scientific reports, updates to websites, and social media posts. The directive, issued by Stefanie Spear, a newly appointed deputy chief of staff at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), was reportedly made amid a deluge of executive actions to allow the administration to review the flow of information. The duration of the pause and whether it applies to time-sensitive updates, such as food recalls, public health emergencies, or the H5N1 bird flu outbreak, remains unclear. The Washington Post reported that nearly a dozen current and former officials confirmed the directive. Spear, a longtime ally of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., issued the order shortly after joining HHS. Kennedy, known for his controversial views on vaccines, is Trump's nominee for HHS Secretary, pending Senate confirmation.