The Department of Health and Human Services directed agency leaders to halt external communications, including press releases, guidance and social media, through Feb. 1, according to a memo from the acting secretary.
The memo, which was sent to agency leaders by acting HHS Secretary Dorothy Fink, outlines that the HHS agencies should refrain from sending any documents for publication in the Federal Register until they can be “reviewed and approved” by a presidential appointee. The directive was sent to the heads of operating divisions and heads of staff divisions at HHS.
The freeze was first reported by Politico.
The memo, an image of which was provided to CQ Roll Call, directs officials to refrain from issuing any guidance, regulation, notice or grant announcement until it’s been approved by a presidential appointee. The freeze also applies to press releases, social media posts, website posts, communications via listservs and any speaking engagements.
The HHS did not respond to a request for comment. The FDA declined to comment and referred the request to HHS. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declined to comment and referred questions to the HHS. The National Institutes of Health did not return a request for comment.
The FDA, CDC and NIH currently do not have acting heads listed on their websites.
The memo states that staff should coordinate with presidential appointees before issuing official communications to public officials, including members of Congress. The memo states nothing in the directive is intended to prevent staff from communicating with members of Congress in their personal capacity or with other third parties, including whistleblower-protected communications.
It states that staff should notify the executive secretary of any communications they believe should be exempt from the freeze because they are required by law, or they affect critical health, safety, environmental, financial or national security functions of HHS, or for any other reason.
The FDA posted several warning letters on Tuesday and a drug safety notice on Wednesday.
The CDC has not updated its H5N1 influenza tracker since Jan. 17.
On Wednesday, the Senate Finance Committee announced that it would hold its nomination hearing for HHS secretary nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Wednesday, Jan. 29. He’s also expected to sit before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee prior to his confirmation vote. The latter hearing had not been scheduled as of late Wednesday afternoon.
A White House spokesperson did not return a text message seeking information on the directive.
Richard Besser, former acting director of the CDC, lambasted the decision in a statement Wednesday.
“Cutting off communications from CDC puts our health at risk and prevents our doctors, nurses, and public health leaders in our communities from doing their jobs,” he said. “I urge the administration to quickly lift the pause.”
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