DeLauro Statement on Silencing of Federal Health Agencies

Today, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement on the Trump Administration’s freeze on public communications by federal health agencies: 

“There is no good reason to freeze the regular release of data and information from America’s health agencies, particularly in the midst of an outbreak of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza. There is no justification for requiring presidential appointees to review basic communications on matters of public health. All these communications, from press releases to regulatory announcements, need to continue as normal, without political interference. This freeze will delay timely health communications from being circulated to the public and public health partners, which could have significant unforeseen consequences.

“The Trump Administration also needs to lift the pause on peer review panels of research proposals submitted to the National Institutes of Health. Peer review is a necessary step in identifying promising research that can lead to lifesaving treatments and cures. The American people do not want to delay critical research that can help Americans suffering from cancer, Alzheimer’s, ALS, diabetes, or so many other diseases and health conditions.

“I call on Acting Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Dorothy Fink to immediately rescind this unnecessary gag order on our federal health agencies, and resume the flow of information that is relevant to the health of all Americans.”