Despite an ongoing communications freeze at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is gradually restarting essential meetings and travel related to its crucial grant-review process. While striving for normalcy, the agency acknowledges its operations haven't fully recovered to their pre-President Donald Trump administration state.
The National Institutes of Health ( NIH ) is gradually resuming essential meetings and travel crucial for the grant-review process, despite an ongoing communications freeze at the Department of Health and Human Services ( HHS ). While the agency strives to return to normalcy, its operations haven't fully recovered to their pre-President Donald Trump administration state.
Advisory council and scientific review meetings, vital for the NIH's grant-making process where external scientists provide final grant evaluations and strategic advice before new program finalization, have continued but will remain closed to the public for now. When Trump took office, he imposed a freeze on external communications at HHS and its sub-agencies. Earlier this week, HHS spokesman Andrew Nixon announced that 'several types of external communications' are no longer subject to the pause, and 'all HHS divisions have been given clear guidance on how to seek approval for any other type of mass communication.'NIH is adopting a day-by-day approach to ensure compliance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, which governs federal advisory committees and prioritizes public involvement through open meetings and reporting. Last week, NIH Director Matthew Memoli sent a letter to staff clarifying the ongoing communications freeze. According to Memoli, the freeze was intended to 'allow the new team to set up a process for review and prioritization,' but he acknowledged 'confusion on the scope of the pause' and aimed to provide further guidance. Besides halting announcements, press releases, website and social media posts, new guidelines, and new regulations, the freeze also prohibited public appearances and travel by agency officials, and new purchases or service requests related to agency work. This move sparked anger and confusion among both HHS officials and the broader medical community, particularly due to the potential disruption of critical health research. In his memo to staff, Memoli clarified that research or clinical trials initiated before January 20th could continue 'so that this work can continue, and we do not lose our investment in these studies.' Officials working on these studies can also purchase 'necessary supplies' and hold meetings related to the research. Although new research projects remain prohibited, NIH staff were informed they could continue submitting papers to medical journals and communicate with those journals regarding submitted work. Travel and hiring for such work can proceed as well, Memoli indicated, but his office must grant specific exemptions for new hires as Trump also implemented a freeze on hiring new federal civilian employees across all agencies during his first week in office. Routine travel scheduled after February 1st 'does not need to be canceled at this time,' Memoli added. Patients receiving treatment at NIH facilities can continue their care as usual. NIH can also submit documents to the Federal Register and correspond with public officials. While the pause at HHS has caused significant concern and criticism, Dr. Ali Khan, a former Centers for Disease Control and Prevention scientist and current dean of the University of Nebraska's school of public health, told the Associated Press that such pauses are not unprecedented. Khan stated that concern is only warranted if the pause was intended to 'silence the agencies around a political narrative.
NIH HHS Communications Freeze Grant Review Trump Administration Medical Research
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