Trump shutters EPA external communications

White House is ‘ looking into’ reports of media gag orders

A Trump administration directive ordering employees at the Environmental Protection Agency to halt external communications and posts on social media fueled news reports Tuesday that a number of other agencies were issuing similar gag orders to their workers.

But while the EPA confirmed it was freezing such activity as well as new contracts and grants, administration officials spent much of Tuesday tamping down conspiratorial rumors of widespread media blackouts.

White House spokesman Sean Spicer said he was aware of the news reports but not familiar with any broad edict.

“We’re looking into it,” he told reporters Tuesday. “I don’t think it’s any surprise that when there’s an administration turnover that we’re going to review the policies.”

The agencies reportedly affected in some measure included Health and Human Services and the U. S. Department of Agriculture. But spokespeople for those agencies called the reports overblown or flatly denied them.

“Contrary to erroneous media reports, HHS and its agencies continue to communicate fully about its work through all of its regular communication channels with the public, the media and other relevant audiences,” according to the agency. “There is no directive to do otherwise.” That was in response to a Huf

fington Post story that officials at smaller agencies within HHS had been told not to send “any correspondence to public officials” according to memos obtained by the news site.

And BuzzFeed reported that some Agriculture employees have been told not to publicly share summaries of scientific papers or tweeting through its official site.

A spokeswoman for the USDA had yet to return a call for comment Tuesday. But according to a Reuters report, the agency said an internal email sent to workers calling for a suspension of “public- facing documents” at its Agricultural Research Service was flawed and new guidance would be issued to replace it.

Only the EPA did not dispute the reports. Yet a statement from the agency said it “fully intends to continue to provide information to the public. A fresh look at public affairs and communications processes is common practice for any new Administration, and a short pause in activities allows for this assessment.” Political opponents pounced. “This administration is launching direct attacks on truth and transparency in our gov’t. Very troubling — and honestly, antidemocratic,” Sen. Kamala Harris, D- Calif., tweeted.

More alarming to state regulators is the temporary suspension of EPA grants and contracts.

Environmental groups registered their anger.

“President Trump’s move to freeze all communications and EPA grant programs on the first day of his job should be a major red flag for all Americans at the start of a new administration,” said Liz Perera, climate change policy director for the Sierra Club.

The EPA “fully intends to continue to provide information to the public. A fresh look at public affairs and communications processes is common practice for any new Administration.” Statement from the Environmental Protection Agency

SUSAN WALSH, AP White House press secretary Sean Spicer calls on a reporter during the daily briefing at the White House on Tuesday. Administration officials tamped down rumors of a media blackout.