The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s flagship health journal, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), has experienced a significant slowdown in publications since the new administration took office. According to MedPage Today, one of the main reasons behind this decline is the increased clearance process required for publication by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Kennedy Jr., who lacks a health, science, or medical background, allegedly demands clearance from authors before publishing their work. However, a spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services disputes this claim, calling it “false.”
A review of published study totals reveals a stark contrast between past years and 2025. In the three-month window from May to July, the journal had only 35 total publications, significantly lower than its average of 76 over the same period in previous years.
This decline in publications is attributed to slower submissions and the lack of early access for press under the standard embargo system. The MMWR was also not published on schedule in January amid a federal communication freeze, marking the first time in its more than 60-year history.
Source: https://arstechnica.com/health/2025/07/trump-admin-is-muffling-cdcs-flagship-health-journal-report-finds