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Trump administration orders communication freeze on health agencies

January 22, 2025

The Trump administration instructed federal health agencies, including CDC, FDA, and NIH, to pause all external communications pending a review, according to the Washington Post—which cited "nearly a dozen current and former officials and other people familiar with the matter."

This directive, issued by Stefanie Spear, a new deputy chief of staff at HHS, was issued on January 21 and has raised concerns among public health officials about the potential impact on the timely dissemination of critical health information.

The pause affects scientific reports, health advisories, and updates on public health threats, including the ongoing H5N1 bird flu outbreak. Health experts emphasize the importance of maintaining communication to ensure public safety, especially during health emergencies.^1,2

Sources:

¹Sun LH, et al. (2025, January 21). The Washington Post. Trump officials pause health agencies’ communications, citing review. https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/01/21/trump-hhs-cdc-fda-communication-pause/

²Goodman, B. & Tirrell, M. (2025, January 22). CNN. Trump administration directs federal health agencies to pause communications. https://www.cnn.com/2025/01/21/health/hhs-cdc-fda-trump-pause-communication/index.html