Employees of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services were told to halt all public communications Tuesday.
NPR obtained a memo issued by the acting head of HHS, Dr. Dorothy Fink, to the heads of all the agency’s operating divisions, directing them to refrain from most external communications, such as issuing documents, guidance or notices, until such documents can be approved by “a presidential appointee.”
The action is “consistent with precedent,” according to the memo, and applies until Feb. 1. The communications freeze was first reported by The Washington Post. It also includes public speaking and social media.
“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. There are a lot of discussions going on right now.”
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