HHS pauses communications through Feb. 1, memo says

Source: Roll Call

Posted January 22, 2025 at 6:49pm


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.

Read more: https://rollcall.com/2025/01/22/hhs-pauses-communications-through-feb-1-memo-says/