A number of other health agencies are also operating without acting heads, including the FDA and the National Institutes of Health.

President Trump has imposed temporary freezes at the National Institutes of Health on meetings, travel, communications and hiring, citing the need to review protocols.

Federal health officials have been instructed to temporarily stop any “external communications” to the public, according to two officials with knowledge of the situation.

The Trump administration told federal public health agencies like the CDC that they are not to communicate health messages for now. The hold includes memos, reports, online posts, website updates and other forms of communication. Scientific meetings were also canceled for the time being, including of advisory panels.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has paused public communications until Feb. 1 as Trump appointees take control of health agencies.

All communication from federal health agencies will be paused until Feb. 1 while the new Trump-Vance administration catches up.

According to agency officials and knowledgeable people, the Trump administration has directed federal health agencies to freeze external communications, including weekly scientific reports, health advisories and website updates.

The order also applies to other health and science agencies, including the FDA and the National Institutes of Health.

President Trump ordered a pause on communications from several federal health organizations, including the FDA, the CDC, and the National Institutes of Health.

An email obtained by NPR says NIH employees are subject to a travel freeze and offers of employment are being rescinded. Scientists worry about disruptions to critical research.

President Trump has picked former Congressman David Weldon to serve as his CDC director. Previous directors have been able to start soon after they were picked. But under a law passed by Congress in 2022, Weldon will need to be confirmed by the Senate before starting in the position.