EPA’s Social-Media Accounts Have Been Silent Since The Inauguration

"Nearly a month after the presidential inauguration — and after being subject to temporary media blackout shortly thereafter — the Environmental Protection Agency has remained silent on social media, even while other federal agencies have gone on communicating as usual. In fact, the agency has posted nothing on its official Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts since Jan. 19, the day before President Trump was sworn into office.

According to an agency spokesman, the social-media hiatus will continue until an EPA administrator has been officially confirmed. But the reasons for the freeze in the meantime remain unclear.

Last month’s media restrictions were instituted by Trump administration officials within days of the inauguration. The order instructed employees of the EPA, along with other agencies including the Interior and Agriculture departments, to restrict their communications with the public via news releases and official social-media accounts. A memo to EPA staff members, sent on Jan. 23, noted that a digital strategist would be coming on board to oversee social-media accounts, some of which it said may become “more centrally controlled.”  "

Chelsea Harvey reports for the Washington Post February 16, 2017.