The Trump administration has directed key federal health agencies to temporarily stop all external communications, including health advisories, scientific reports, website updates, and social media posts.
The instructions, delivered Tuesday to employees at agencies within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), have sparked concern among public health experts and agency staff.
This directive affects agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). According to nearly a dozen current and former officials with knowledge of the matter, the order came one day after the Trump administration assumed office.
Staff members from these agencies, who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the topic, revealed that the order has disrupted regular health updates that inform the public. This includes scientific reports and advisories on pressing public health issues, which are typically shared through official agency websites and social media channels.
Health agencies like the CDC and FDA play a critical role in keeping the public informed about emerging health threats, such as disease outbreaks, vaccine safety, and food recalls.
