Dr. Dorothy Fink, acting secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), has issued a gag order prohibiting all outgoing communications from the agency without prior approval from a presidential appointee. This directive, outlined in a five-step memorandum, affects all divisions within HHS, including the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, and remains in effect until February 1. The order requires all communications—including regulations, guidance, and public speaking engagements—to be reviewed and approved, while also mandating that legal or critical documents impacting health and safety be reported to the executive secretary policy coordinator, aimed at centralizing control during the upcoming confirmation hearing of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

HHS Implements Gag Order to Centralize Communications Ahead of Transition Healthcare IT News

On January 22, 2025, President Donald Trump pardoned Ross Ulbricht, the founder of the Silk Road, a darknet marketplace tied to over $180 million in illegal drug sales. Trump criticized Ulbricht's 2015 sentencing as excessive, describing it as "ridiculous," and framed the pardon as a reflection of his stance against the perceived "weaponization of government." This pardon aligns with Trump's broader pattern of granting clemency, particularly to individuals associated with the January 6 Capitol riots. Ulbricht was arrested in 2013 and charged with multiple offenses related to his operation of the Silk Road, which facilitated global illegal transactions through the TOR network.

Trump Pardons Silk Road Founder Ross Ulbricht, Sparking Controversy Cyber Daily

A study from the University of Minnesota School of Public Health reveals significant disparities in the evaluation of AI predictive models among U.S. hospitals, with only 44% assessing these tools for bias despite two-thirds of hospitals utilizing them. The research indicates that hospitals with more financial resources and technical expertise are better equipped to develop and evaluate AI tools, creating potential inequities in patient care. Many hospitals rely on AI for predicting health outcomes and optimizing services, yet under-resourced institutions face challenges in effectively evaluating these tools. Assistant Professor Paige Nong urges the adoption of predictive model labels from the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy to enhance bias assessments and calls for localized evaluations to ensure AI tools serve the needs of diverse patient populations.

Study Reveals AI Bias Evaluation Gaps in U.S. Hospitals Healthcare IT News

A new security alert reveals that over 1 billion passwords have been compromised by malware, as detailed in the 2025 Breached Password Report from Specops Software. Despite strong password policies, the report highlights the vulnerabilities associated with password reuse, making even complex passwords susceptible to theft. Cybercriminals often employ infostealer malware to infiltrate systems through phishing or software vulnerabilities, collecting sensitive information from various sources. This underscores the need for improved security practices, such as software updates and multi-factor authentication. Additionally, a report from Cyble indicates that credentials from major cybersecurity vendors are being sold on the dark web for as little as $10.

Over 1 Billion Passwords Stolen: Cybersecurity Crisis Unveiled Forbes