Amid a partial easing of external communication restrictions at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), new layers of review from political appointees under the Trump Administration continue to hinder the agency’s operations. The administration now dictates the topics that can be covered, leading to verbal instructions on permissible content rather than written guidelines. The Department of Health and Human Services closely monitors information releases and restricts what career scientists can publish.

An internal memo obtained by NPR reveals that all external communications must comply with Executive Orders, and staff are advised to seek approval when in doubt. While certain communications can resume under specific circumstances, the fate of scientific research is uncertain. Authors are being instructed to withdraw manuscripts conflicting with Trump’s executive orders, potentially jeopardizing vital research efforts.

The constraints on CDC scientists have raised concerns among former officials and editors of medical journals. The Trump administration’s directive to pull back submitted work has faced opposition, with some editors refusing to alter accepted articles. Dr. Alfredo Morabia of the American Journal of Public Health emphasizes the importance of sound science and opposes content pruning.

Dr. Michael Iademarco, a former CDC director, expresses apprehension over potential data suppression resulting from increased review layers. Current employees fear that valid scientific data could be obscured or suppressed as a consequence of these stringent measures. The situation reflects a broader concern about the administration’s control over public health communications and scientific research dissemination, prompting calls for transparency and integrity in scientific communication.