TRUMP ADMINISTRATION GAGS AGENCIES FROM COMMUNICATIONS WITH PRESS OR PUBLIC; THREATENS ROGUE “RESISTANCE” TWITTER FEEDS

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“The public’s access to its government and its employees is dying.” –Lynn Walsh, Society for Professional Journalists.

By Miriam Raftery

January 27, 2017 (Washington D.C.) -- First Amendment advocates are sounding the alarm over a gag order on federal agencies imposed by Donald Trump’s administration.   The agencies have been ordered not to communicate with the press or public, including press releases, social media, and more.  

Agency insiders have told media that their sites are being purged of scientific data, including climate change information.  But Some individuals claiming to work for the impacted agencies are fighting back, setting up rogue Twitter accounts to send out facts on climate change and updates on crackdowns at their departments.

Agencies that have been gagged include the National Park Service(NPS), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Department of Agriculture, Health and Human Services, and National Aeronautics and Space Administration(NASA).

Lynn Walsh, in a blog post for Society for Professional Journalists, issued a stark warning about the Trump administration’s silencing of public agencies. “Denying agencies from sharing and communicating with the public, even temporarily, denies citizens their rights to access and the ability to hold the government accountable. The public’s access to its government and its employees is dying.”

The actions are the polar opposite of what SPJ asked in a letter to President Trump a week ago. That letter requested a meeting to discuss access to the President’s activities, keeping the Federal Freedom of Information Act as strong as possible, and providing reporters with the ability to interact directly with government employees who are subject matter experts, without filtering through public information officers.

Walsh called the gag orders “unacceptable” stating, “They go against our existence as a democracy,” adding, “SPJ will not stand by and watch as journalists and the public’s rights are being threatened.”

Some agency insiders are also fighting back.  Rogue or alternative Twitter accounts that claim to be set up by agency employees include @RogueNASA, @ActualEPAFacts, @AltEPA, @AltNatParkSer, @AltUSNatParkSer @Alt HHS and @Alt_NASA.   Forbes reports that @AltNatParkSer now has 690,000 followers—more than double the followers of the National Park Service itself.

Here are sample messages:

The Trump administration however has moved to stifle use of official government agency logos on the unauthorized accounts.  Forbes reports that the EPA has forwarded info on @ActualEPAFacts to its Office of General Counsel for “further action.” @RogueNASA and @ActualEPAFacts have changed their logos, while @AltNatParkSer admitted its use of the NPS logo could result in “criminal prosecution” and asked users to help design a new logo. 

@RogueNASA went further, announcing it has handed control of its account to non-federal government personnel and mentioned potential Hatch Act violations.  @AltUSNatParkSer noted that there is an absolute ban on use of federal agency logos and trademarks on social media.

With its unjustifiable and likely illegal crackdown on the public’s right to know what’s happening at federal public agencies, Trump also fails to live up to the promise he made in his inauguration speech, when he stated, “…We are transferring power from Washington, D.C. and giving it back to you, the American people.”


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