Pause in Federal Health Communications Should Concern Clinical Lab Workers
Clinical lab veterans and newcomers have reason to monitor the shutdown of information from the Trump administration

It’s certainly been an interesting first two weeks of the second Donald Trump presidency in terms of healthcare policy. For clinical lab managers, the pause in federal health communications stands out.
Given all the hoopla Trump created with his slew of executive orders, one has to wonder about the impression left on hard-working lab scientists who are living through these sudden announcements. And what of watchful younger workers seeking to enter the field?
The results of the president’s actions are myriad:
- Typically numerous press releases from the Food and Drug Administration dried up.
- Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) was not published for the first time under an incoming administration in at least 25 years.
- New health guidelines and website posts have temporarily stopped.
Has this suspension in communications been “chaotic”? That term is often thrown around loosely. Right now, the US healthcare system seems to be operating as usual, and patients aren’t protesting in the streets.
However, the actions did alarm people in the clinical lab field. And it’s reasonable to assume people considering a career in laboratory science will watch these developments with a critical eye.
‘Even if the agency cannot provide immediate advice’
Perhaps most telling was this bit from the January 27 edition of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) News podcast, which addressed the pause in federal health communications from HHS:
This pause could delay policy information and guidance from HHS agencies, impacting healthcare providers who may need critical advice. Healthcare providers are encouraged to contact regulatory agencies for necessary guidance, even if the agency cannot provide immediate advice during the pause.
That part, more than anything associated with the shutdown in HHS communications, should worry clinical lab managers. As providers, laboratories need access to information to keep patient care and revenue earning on track.
But the HHS podcast makes it clear that a gate blocks that access for now. Need help interpreting CLIA proficiency testing requirements? Sorry. Want guidance on Medicare compliance for lab testing? Nope. Hope to discuss a clinically significant issue with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention? Try back later.
A hint clinical lab managers should monitor
The HHS podcast noted that the pause in federal health communications will end on February 1. What’s not clear is whether any long-standing changes will be made in the interim.
One hint may come from an unrelated area. Just before President Joe Biden left office, HHS released a list of drugs whose pricing was to be negotiated with manufacturers. It’s a healthcare issue that affects patients regardless of their political standing, thus it becomes a concern for federal lawmakers representing their districts.
It remains to be seen how the Trump team will handle the drug price negotiations. If it delays or revises the review—something that would seem like a political risk—then it’s hard to believe the administration is worried about whether MMWR resumes regular publication. On the other hand, if the price negotiations go as planned, perhaps it would indicate that less controversial aspects of health policy—such as MMWR releases—can move forward.
Let’s hope that the early stages of Trump’s health policy overhaul don’t add to the already long list of reasons that seasoned veterans are leaving—and younger scientists are avoiding—the laboratory medicine profession.