• Economy
  • Editor’s Pick
Money Rise Today – Investing and Stock News
  • Investing
  • Stock
Editor's Pick

NIH director clarifies HHS communications freeze, confirms some essential functions can continue

by January 28, 2025
written by January 28, 2025

National Institutes of Health (NIH) Acting Director Matthew Memoli sought to clarify the extent of the Trump administration’s freeze on communications and other functions within the Health and Human Services Department, which has raised concern among agency officials and lawmakers.

Memoli’s memo, sent Monday to leaders across the NIH’s more than two dozen centers and institutions, said the freeze had been issued to ‘allow the new team to set up a process for review and prioritization,’ but noted that due to ‘confusion on the scope of the pause’ he wanted to provide additional guidance.

The internal memo was first reported by STAT News .The NIH did not respond to repeated requests for comment. 

Last week, the new Trump administration abruptly paused external communications at HHS through the first of next month. In addition to halting announcements, press releases, website and social media posts, new guidance, and new regulations, the freeze also halted public appearances and travel by agency officials, and prohibited new purchases or service requests related to agency work.

The move caused anger and confusion among both HHS officials and those in the broader medical community. Following the directive, scientific meetings and grant reviews were canceled, raising significant concerns about the impact on research.

‘We write to express our grave concerns about actions that have taken place in recent days that potentially disrupt lifesaving research being conducted and supported by the National Institutes of Health,’ a trio of Democratic lawmakers from Maryland said in a Monday letter to HHS’s Acting Secretary Dr. Dorothy Fink. ‘Without quick corrective action, the consequences of further disruption could be disastrous.’

According to Memoli’s memo, while agency officials are not permitted to begin new research while the pause is in effect, any research or clinical trials initiated before Jan. 20 can keep going ‘so that this work can continue, and we do not lose our investment in these studies.’ Officials working on these studies may also purchase any ‘necessary supplies’ and conduct meetings related to such work. Although new research projects are still prohibited, NIH staff can continue submitting papers to medical journals and can communicate with those journals about submitted work.

The freeze on purchases was further clarified by Memoli’s memo, which indicated that while the pause remains, purchases ‘directly related to human safety, human or animal healthcare, security, biosafety, biosecurity, or IT security,’ can continue. Travel and hiring for such work can continue as well, Memoli indicated, but his office must grant specific exemptions for new hires as President Donald Trump also initiated a freeze on the hiring of new federal civilian employees across all agencies during his first week in office.

Routine travel planned for after Feb. 1 ‘does not need to be canceled at this time,’ Memoli added. Patients receiving treatment at NIH facilities can also continue to do so.

 

Meanwhile, external communications will continue to be prohibited except for ‘announcements that HHS divisions believe are mission critical.’ On Monday, amid the freeze, Fink announced that HHS would begin evaluating its current practices to ensure they meet federal requirements under the Hyde Amendment, a law prohibiting the use of federal funds for non-medically necessary, elective abortions.  

One subject area that was notably absent from Memoli’s memo to federal health leaders was clarifications around grant review meetings. However, the acting director’s memo concluded by indicating that further guidance is expected to be made available later this week.

While the pause at HHS has caused a firestorm of concern and criticism, a former Centers for Disease Control and Prevention scientist who is now the dean of the University of Nebraska’s school of public health, Dr. Ali Khan, told the Associated Press that such pauses are not unusual. Khan said concern is only warranted if the pause was aimed at ‘silencing the agencies around a political narrative.’

‘I think the intention of such a chaotic freezing of communications was to scare us, to demoralize us, and to set science back a bit in an effort to make us look bad,’ said a long-time NIH staffer who spoke to Forbes on the condition of anonymity. ‘We are by no means perfect, but, ffs, our job is literally to enable research to save lives, what the heck?’

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
0 comment
0
FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail

previous post
White House press secretary defends Trump’s firing of inspectors general
next post
Vance preaches unity as tensions boil at House GOP retreat over MIA lawmakers

related articles

Trump wins over lifelong Democrat autoworker with ‘big,...

June 27, 2025

FBI investigating Iran strike leaker, Leavitt says: ‘They...

June 26, 2025

EXCLUSIVE: Trump admin takes action after massive fraud...

June 26, 2025

‘Presidential incapacity’: Senate Republican seeks paper trail of...

June 26, 2025

White House drops ‘Daddy’s Home’ meme after viral...

June 26, 2025

Dem senator accuses top Trump official of being...

June 26, 2025

‘The mission was accomplished’: Senate Republicans push back...

June 26, 2025

Fury erupts as unelected Senate ‘scorekeeper’ blocks Trump’s...

June 26, 2025

GOP senator calls for parliamentarian’s firing after serving...

June 26, 2025

Drone incursions on US bases come under intense...

June 26, 2025
Enter Your Information Below To Receive Free Trading Ideas, Latest News, And Articles.


Your information is secure and your privacy is protected. By opting in you agree to receive emails from us. Remember that you can opt-out any time, we hate spam too!

Latest News

  • Ratcliffe says new Signal texts show he ‘did not transmit classified information’

    March 26, 2025
  • Modern Trade vs General Trade Management

    August 19, 2024
  • With 10 days until voting starts, ‘election season’ kicks off sooner than you think

    August 27, 2024
  • Vance previews US-Iran nuclear talks, says Trump ‘open’ to sitting down with Russians, Chinese in future

    May 7, 2025
  • SafeMoon and Litecoin: Litecoin retreats below $70.00 again

    August 1, 2024

Popular Posts

  • 1

    Secret Service admits leaning on ‘state and local partners’ after claim it ignored Trump team’s past requests

    July 21, 2024
  • 2

    Elon and Vivek should tackle US funding for this boondoogle organization and score a multimillion dollar win

    December 4, 2024
  • 3

    Five more House Democrats call on Biden to drop out, third US senator

    July 19, 2024
  • 4

    Forex Profit Calculator: Maximize Your Trading Potential

    July 10, 2024
  • 5

    Biden calls to ‘lower the temperature’ then bashes Trump in NAACP speech

    July 17, 2024

Categories

  • Economy (829)
  • Editor's Pick (5,124)
  • Investing (634)
  • Stock (820)

Latest Posts

  • Louisiana mom warns ‘half of what we’re working for’ at risk if Trump’s budget bill fails

    June 25, 2025
  • Republican Kevin Hern profits from UNH stock while overseeing Medicare policy

    July 18, 2024
  • Democrats elect new chair who branded Trump a ‘traitor’ as party aims to rebound from disastrous 2024 election

    February 1, 2025

Recent Posts

  • Arrest of Chinese nationals in swing state, Israel’s fight with Iran are ‘wake up’ call on CCP threat: experts

    June 21, 2025
  • 5 biggest FBI scandals during Christopher Wray’s tenure as director

    December 12, 2024
  • British PM makes unfortunate ‘return of the sausages’ gaffe during serious speech

    September 24, 2024

Editor’s Pick

  • Stefanik meets with senators as Trump’s UN ambassador nominee, touts ‘American First peace through strength’

    November 22, 2024
  • Alberto Gonzales becomes latest Bush alum to endorse Harris

    September 12, 2024
  • UN chief sounds the alarm amid fears over possible DOGE-inspired cuts after Trump’s order

    February 5, 2025
  • About us
  • Contacts
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions

Disclaimer: moneyrisetoday.com, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively “The Company”) do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.

Copyright © 2025 moneyrisetoday.com | All Rights Reserved

Money Rise Today – Investing and Stock News
  • Economy
  • Editor’s Pick
Money Rise Today – Investing and Stock News
  • Investing
  • Stock