The Trump administration’s freeze on communications from U.S. health agencies is leading to another disruption: the abrupt cancellation of scientific meetings. The move covers a swath of health conditions,

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has paused public communications until Feb. 1 as Trump appointees take control of health agencies.

The halt has frozen research grants, meetings and key health updates. “Everything is basically in chaos,” said one cancer researcher.

The Trump administration is expected to tap Susan Coller Monarez, the deputy director of a federal health research agency, to serve as the acting head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,

The Trump administration’s freeze on some government work and communications on health topics pending a political review is alarming the nation’s scientists, who say the move could delay essential information and slow funding for potentially life-saving initiatives.

Scientific meetings were canceled, and research data on the bird flu outbreak was delayed, amid confusion over the directive.