WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration has directed federal health agencies to freeze all outside communications such as health advisories, weekly scientific reports, website updates and social media posts, the Washington Post reported on Tuesday, citing dozens Reported with Current and former officials and sources.
The directive was issued Tuesday to staff from agencies within the Department of Health and Human Services, including officials from the Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health, the newspaper reported. The agencies had no immediate comment.
Trump took office on Monday.
The Washington Post said it was not clear from guidance provided by the new administration whether the directive would affect more urgent communications, such as foodborne illness outbreaks, drug approvals and new cases of bird flu.
Stephanie Speer, the health department’s deputy chief of staff, told agency staff Tuesday morning to freeze outside communications, the newspaper reported.
Some officials quoted by the newspaper said the move is aimed at helping newly installed Trump health officials understand the massive flow of information coming from health agencies.
