Federal health authorities have been instructed by the Trump administration to temporarily suspend external communications, such as alerts and updates.
Despite being called a normal assessment, experts worry that it can postpone important health information, endangering public safety in the midst of ongoing medical emergencies.
The CDC, FDA, and NIH are among the government health agencies that the Trump administration has abruptly ordered to temporarily suspend all external contacts.
This order includes stopping social media posts, public health advisories, and scientific updates until presidential appointees have examined and authorized them.
The decision, delivered Tuesday without prior warning, has raised eyebrows across health sectors. A memo from Acting Health Secretary Dr. Dorothy Fink clarified that this measure is part of the administration’s plan to oversee public communications, effective until February 1.
The memo restricts public speaking, press releases, and even correspondence with Congress unless explicitly authorized.
Experts are speaking out about the potential consequences. “Cutting off communications from the CDC puts public health at risk,” said Dr. Richard Besser, former acting director of the CDC.
Agencies regularly issue critical updates on food recalls, drug safety warnings, and disease outbreaks. Amid ongoing threats like the H5N1 bird flu, experts warn that delayed communication could endanger lives.
The scope of this instruction feels extremely tight, according to insiders, even though communication breaks during transitions are not unique. Critics worry that it might be an indication of a larger movement that puts political message ahead of openness in public health.
The country watches anxiously as medical professionals urge the delay to be removed, raising concerns about whether critical health information will reach the public in time to stop preventable injury.
