The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) has shared a communication with its members offering additional context regarding the HHS Directive. The AAMC notes that similar directives have been issued by previous administrations at the start of a new president’s term to provide their staff time to transition into their roles. This pause is understood to be temporary. However, it may cause some disruptions or delays in federal grant funding processes, including reaching our federal contacts for grant-related inquiries during the communication pause, which is expected to continue through next week.
Below is key information provided by the AAMC regarding the HHS Directive:
Temporary Freeze on Public Communications:
HHS has paused all public communications, including:
- Publication of documents, regulations, guidance, and notices
- Grant announcements
- Website updates and press releases
- Social media activity
- Participation in public speaking engagements
Federal Advisory Committees and NIH Study Sections:
- HHS has suspended operations of advisory committees, including NIH study sections.
- This suspension is expected to be temporary, with reports indicating activities may resume as early as February 1.
Travel Suspension:
- HHS staff have been directed to suspend all work-related travel immediately and indefinitely.
We encourage faculty to proceed with their grant proposal efforts as planned. The Department of Contracts and Grants (DCG) team continues to be available to support you and your research teams.
DCG will continue to monitor this situation closely and provide updates and clarifications as they become available.