WASHINGTON — The National Institutes of Health’s myriad divisions can start new work on mission-critical research, and continue working on ongoing studies, but cannot publicly communicate about them until the new Trump administration lifts a communications freeze, the acting director said in a memo to leaders of the agency’s 27 institutes and centers on Monday.
The agency expects “additional guidance” this week on the communications freeze — which unleashed confusion about whether government workers could attend public meetings, speak with outside researchers, or dispatch public health information — from the Health and Human Services Department.
Acting Director Matthew Memoli wrote in the memo, obtained by STAT, that the pause is “to allow the new team to set up a process for review and prioritization.” While several of the new administration’s appointees are installed at HHS — and Biden staff have exited — President Trump’s nominee to lead HHS, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., goes before two Senate committees for his confirmation hearings this week. A hearing for his pick to lead NIH, Jay Battacharaya, has not been scheduled.
© 2025 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Trade confidently with insights and alerts from analyst ratings, free reports and breaking news that affects the stocks you care about.
