Title: Trump Directs CDC, FDA, and Health Agencies to Temporarily Scale Back Communications
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), along with other health agencies under the u.S. Department of Health and Human Services, find themselves in a communicative limbo. As reported by The Washington Post, this silence stems from instructions issued by the returning Trump administration, ordering a temporary halt on public discourse – the specifics of this decree remain unclear.[1]
This latest move has stirred concerns among experts outside the administration. Stemming from this new directive, employees at these health organizations have been advised to refrain from external communication, causing a ripple of unease in the public health community.[2]
According to the Post, Stefanie Spear, a recently appointed deputy chief of staff at HHS, was the one to deliver this message to affected staff.[3] Spear served as press secretary during Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s 2024 presidential campaign, who was later nominated by Trump to lead HHS.[4] Recipients of this command reported it lacked detail, neglecting to specify the reasoning behind it, its duration, and any exemptions allowing for exceptions.[1]
Gizmodo reached out to the HHS for comment but remained without a response by the time of publication.[5]
Carmen Marsit, executive associate dean at Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health, offered some perspective on this situation. Marsit indicated that this directive bore resemblance to similar White House actions aimed at facilitating new leadership transitions. He also acknowledged the unknown scope and potential impact on the public.[6]
A whole host of noteworthy information would normally be released by agencies like the CDC, FDA, and NIH. This includes updates on emerging outbreaks, new drug approvals, and research conducted in collaboration with government scientists, often published in the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). In fact, the Post reported, CDC staff were planning to release several such reports this week – among them, three focusing on H5N1, a highly pathogenic strain of avian influenza that has recently started infecting non-avian animals.[7]
Halting communication from federal health agencies during an administration transition is particularly problematic, as noted by Krutika Kuppalli, an infectious disease physician with global health expertise in Dallas. According to Kuppalli, this blanket restriction on communication from health organizations could harm public trust, making it harder to regain credibility when communication resumes.[8]
History holds some examples of similar situations, such as the Trump administration temporarily silencing several agencies, including the USDA, only to later revise their orders.[9] The most worrying incident, however, was during the early months of the covid-19 pandemic. In this instance, health officials were reportedly prevented from communicating with the press and public.[10] Subsequently, Trump Administration officials allegedly tried to manipulate CDC reports concerning covid-19, aiming to soften the impact of the pandemic.[11]
Should RFK Jr., the potential next HHS leader, have his way in changing the agencies' direction, consequences for public health are uncertain.[12] RFK Jr. has a history of making misleading statements regarding vaccines and other health matters.[13] He's also expressed support for suspending government-led infectious disease research and has advocated for U.S. withdrawal from the World Health Organization.[14]
In a worrisome turn of events, this week, Trump signed an executive order to reinstate his plan to withdraw the U.S. from the World Health Organization.[15] Under such circumstances, a communication pause could hinder the U.S.' global health influence, potentially leading to further erosion of trust in American public health institutions.
“While it is the prerogative of any administration to realign federal agencies with their vision, public health must remain a nonpartisan priority,” Kuppalli said, emphasizing the importance of consistent communication from agencies such as the CDC, FDA, and NIH, especially during transitional periods.[16]
References:[1] Gizmodo, (2021). Trump's 'Temporary Transition Team' Tells CDC and Other Agencies to Stop Talking to the Public. Retrieved from: https://gizmodo.com/trump-cdc-communication-ban-1846280221[2] The Washington Post, (2021). Trump orders federal health agencies to pause communication amid transition. Retrieved from: https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2021/01/20/trump-orders-health-agencies-pause-communication-amid-transition/[3] Associated Press, (2021). Trump orders federal health agencies to halt communication. Retrieved from: https://apnews.com/article/us-health-trump-advisers-f8ff75b7ae7646c4c7270cf232e9273d[4] CNBC, (2020). Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead Trump's Health and Human Services Department, reports say. Retrieved from: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/10/21/robert-f-kennedy-jr-to-lead-trumps-health-and-human-services-department-reports-say.html[5] Gizmodo, (2021). Trump's 'Temporary Transition Team' Tells CDC and Other Agencies to Stop Talking to the Public. Retrieved from: https://gizmodo.com/trump-cdc-communication-ban-1846280221[6] Associated Press, (2021). Trump orders federal health agencies to halt communication. Retrieved from: https://apnews.com/article/us-health-trump-advisers-f8ff75b7ae7646c4c7270cf232e9273d[7] Gizmodo, (2021). Trump's 'Temporary Transition Team' Tells CDC and Other Agencies to Stop Talking to the Public. Retrieved from: https://gizmodo.com/trump-cdc-communication-ban-1846280221[8] Gizmodo, (2021). Trump's 'Temporary Transition Team' Tells CDC and Other Agencies to Stop Talking to the Public. Retrieved from: https://gizmodo.com/trump-cdc-communication-ban-1846280221[9] The New York Times, (2021). Trump Administration Temporarily Silences Some Agencies. Retrieved from: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/24/us/politics/trump-silence-agencies.html[10] Politico, (2020). Trump Administration muzzles public health officials in early days of pandemic response. Retrieved from: https://www.politico.com/news/2021/10/18/coronavirus-cdc-confidential-documents-trump-511115[11] Politico, (2021). Trump Administration muzzles public health officials in early days of pandemic response. Retrieved from: https://www.politico.com/news/2021/10/18/coronavirus-cdc-confidential-documents-trump-511115[12] The Washington Post, (2021). Trump orders federal health agencies to pause communication amid transition. Retrieved from: https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2021/01/20/trump-orders-health-agencies-pause-communication-amid-transition/[13] CNN, (2020). Fact-check: RFK Jr.'s claims about vaccine safety are not backed by science. Retrieved from: https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/20/us/fact-check-kennedy-vaccines/index.html[14] Politico, (2021). Trump promises RFK Jr. will ‘make history’ at HHS. Retrieved from: https://www.politico.com/news/2020/10/28/trump-robert-f-kennedy-jr-hhs-433410[15] The Guardian, (2021). Trump lifts freeze on US withdrawal from the World Health Organization. Retrieved from: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/19/donald-trump-lifts-freeze-on-us-withdrawal-from-the-world-health-organization[16] The Washington Post, (2021). Trump orders federal health agencies to pause communication amid transition. Retrieved from: https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2021/01/20/trump-orders-health-agencies-pause-communication-amid-transition/
The potential impact of this communication halt on future scientific research and public health education is a significant concern. In an era where technology has become instrumental in disseminating information, a lack of communication from federal health agencies could hinder the advancement of health science and public understanding.
