Details of the health agency communications pause

Axios has obtained a copy of the memo from HHS directing a pause in federal health agencies' public communications that was first reported earlier this week by the Washington Post.

Why it matters: The blackout has been met with outrage in some medical and science circles, while other sources have said it's more or less routine for a new administration, if not clumsily handled.

What they're saying: "HHS has issued a pause on mass communications and public appearances that are not directly related to emergencies or critical to preserving health," the department said in a statement.

• "This is a short pause to allow the new team to set up a process for review and prioritization. There are exceptions for announcements that HHS divisions believe are mission critical, but they will be made on a case-by-case basis."

Between the lines: The exact scope of the directive remains murky, along with whether it affects content like the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

• The FDA, for example, on Wednesday issued a safety warning about allergic reactions to a multiple sclerosis drug.
• Public Citizen called for the communications pause to end by Feb. 1, saying: "There is zero reason for standard public health communications that people rely on to stay safe to be paused, and for scientific meetings to be postponed or cancelled."