In a significant move, 34 Democratic senators sent a letter on Wednesday night to Acting Secretary of Health and Human Services Dorothy Fink, urging the federal agency to lift its recent freeze on “external communications and funding.”
The senators expressed their deep concern over the Administration’s sudden decision to halt external communications and suspend federal health funding at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). They emphasized that this abrupt order has disrupted vital patient care, compromised public health oversight, and stalled crucial medical research funding.
Senators Amy Klobuchar and Bernie Sanders spearheaded the initiative, with a total of 32 other Democratic senators adding their support.
The memo issued by HHS on January 21 imposed a near-total pause on external communications, instructing agency staff to refrain from issuing documents, guidance, or notices until approved by a “presidential appointee.”
Originally set to expire on February 1, the senators noted that the confusing restrictions remain in effect, severely impeding essential public health functions and biomedical research.
Notably, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) failed to publish its weekly Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report for the weeks of January 22 and January 29, marking a historic break in its publication frequency. Fortunately, the report was eventually released this week.
When questioned about the communications freeze, an HHS spokesperson confirmed some types of external communications are no longer subject to the pause and mentioned that critical health and safety-related communications continue to receive approval.
However, concerns linger as scientists report ongoing unavailability of essential data and pages. The National Institutes of Health faces delays in grant decisions, stalling new research and patient recruitment for clinical studies.
The senators are demanding a comprehensive report by February 10 detailing all postponed or canceled communications, including scientific reports, public health advisories, and grant decisions.
They highlighted the necessity for HHS to provide real-time information regarding disease outbreaks, medical research, and regulatory decisions, which remain critical for public health.
The letter further addresses funding challenges linked to a funding freeze outlined in a January 27 memo by the Office of Management and Budget, which temporarily halted most federal grants and loans until a court later intervened.
Despite legal obstacles, the administration continues to review federal spending, leaving health clinics reliant on federal funds in the lurch as they encounter difficulties accessing their appropriated funding.
Separately, other Democratic senators led by Tim Kaine and Mark R. Warner also expressed their concerns in a letter to HHS, noting ongoing confusion among grantees reliant on federal funding due to insufficient communication about their financial status.
In light of these events, the senators collectively emphasized the urgent need for clarity and action from HHS to ensure uninterrupted access to crucial funding and reliable health information for the American public.
