The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has implemented a freeze on most public communications for its 90,000 employees until February 1st. The order, issued by acting health secretary Dorothy Fink, requires all external communications, including documents, guidance, and notices, to be approved by a presidential appointee. While the agency states this is consistent with precedent, some officials and public health experts express concern about the potential for confusion and delays in critical information dissemination.
In a memo obtained by NPR, acting health secretary Dorothy Fink forbade staff from public communications on most matters until Feb. 1, unless they get express approval from 'a presidential appointee .'The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services at 200 Independence Ave. SW in Washington, DC. The agency, which has some 90,000 employees, is putting a freeze on most staff communication as of Tuesday.
The action is"consistent with precedent," according to the memo, and applies until Feb. 1. The communications freeze was first reported by the"I look at what's going on as this administration coming in and getting their ducks in a row," said one federal official, who spoke to NPR on the condition that they not be named for fear their job could be at risk."I think this will be temporary. How temporary? That remains to be seen.
He also asserted the pause could have been avoided if there had been a smoother transition between the Biden and Trump administrations., wrote to NPR in a statement that his group's assumption is that"the new Administration is taking time to assess the current public health landscape.
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