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Trump bans agencies from 'providing updates on social media or to reporters' Trump bans agencies from 'providing updates on social media or to reporters'
(35 minutes later)
The Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Agriculture have been placed under de facto gag orders by the Trump administration during it’s inaugural week in power. The Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Agriculture have been placed under de facto gag orders by the Trump administration, according to documents obtained by news organizations.
The president has banned EPA employees from “providing updates on social media or to reporters,” according to interagency emails first obtained by the Associated Press, and barred them from awarding new contracts or grants as well.The president has banned EPA employees from “providing updates on social media or to reporters,” according to interagency emails first obtained by the Associated Press, and barred them from awarding new contracts or grants as well.
This follows similar guidance to USDA employees, who were instructed in an internal memo obtained by Buzzfeed, not to release “any public-facing documents” including “news releases, photos, fact sheets, news feeds, and social media content” until further notice. Specifically the request was made to employees of the Agricultural Research Service, the USDA’s primary research wing. This follows similar guidance to USDA employees, who were instructed in an internal memo obtained by Buzzfeed not to release “any public-facing documents” including “news releases, photos, fact sheets, news feeds, and social media content” until further notice. Specifically the request was made to employees of the Agricultural Research Service, the USDA’s primary research wing.
The two blackouts revealed on Tuesday make at least five federal agencies who have been ordered silent by president Trump in as many days. In his briefing Tuesday, Trump press secretary Sean Spicer said he needed to look further into the matter before making any comment. The two blackouts reported on Tuesday brings to at least five the number of federal agencies who have been ordered silent by Trump in as many days. In his briefing Tuesday, Trump’s press secretary Sean Spicer said he needed to look further into the matter before making any comment.
Over the weekend, the Department of the Interior’s social media privileges were briefly suspended by the president after The National Park Service published a picture comparing Trump’s inauguration crowd to that of president Obama in 2009. Over the weekend, the Department of the Interior’s social media privileges were briefly suspended by the president after the National Park Service published a picture comparing Trump’s inauguration crowd to that of Barack Obama in 2009.
The tweet has since been deleted, and the NPS twitter account has apologized for tweeting it.The tweet has since been deleted, and the NPS twitter account has apologized for tweeting it.
Then, according to Politico, Department of Transportation employees were instructed on Monday “not to publish news releases or engage on Dot’s social media accounts.” This was not described as an order, but a “recommendation”. Then, according to Politico, Department of Transportation employees were instructed on Monday “not to publish news releases or engage on Dot’s social media accounts”. This was not described as an order, but a “recommendation”.
Huffington Post also reported that officials at sub-agencies of the Department of Health and Human Services, have been told not to send “any correspondence to public officials”. Huffington Post also reported that officials at sub-agencies of the Department of Health and Human Services have been told not to send “any correspondence to public officials”.
Social media, and specifically Twitter, was integral to Trump’s campaign for the presidency. Since his inauguration, he has tweeted more than 30 times, from his two accounts. Social media, and specifically Twitter, was integral to Trump’s campaign for the presidency. Since his inauguration, he has tweeted almost 40 times, from his two accounts.
The Department of Defense tweeted on Monday: “Social media postings sometimes provide an important window into a person’s #mentalhealth”, which some pundits considered a reference to Trump’s occasional early morning Twitter rants.The Department of Defense tweeted on Monday: “Social media postings sometimes provide an important window into a person’s #mentalhealth”, which some pundits considered a reference to Trump’s occasional early morning Twitter rants.