WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration has ordered federal health agencies to stop all external communications, such as health advisories, weekly scientific reports, updating websites and social media posts, the Washington Post reported Tuesday, citing a dozen. current and former officials and sources.
The guidelines were issued Tuesday by staff at 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 unclear in the guidance provided by the new administration whether the directive would affect more urgent communications, such as foodborne illness outbreaks, drug approvals and new case of bird flu.
Stefanie Spear, a deputy chief of staff at the Department of Health, ordered agency staff on Tuesday morning to cease outside communications, the newspaper reported.
Some officials quoted by the newspaper were quoted as saying that the move was aimed at helping newly installed Trump health officials understand the large flow of information coming from health agencies.