FDA denies memo saying it only allows Fox News on TVs

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Friday denied the validity of a memo circulating on social media that claims that Fox News will be the only news channel allowed on televisions for one of the agency’s units.

“There was no directive or memorandum from the Administration that went out to employees about broadcast news channels displaying on monitors in common areas throughout the FDA’s White Oak campus,” an FDA spokeswoman told The Washington Post‘s Erik Wemple.

{mosads}

The memo, which was apparently sent to employees at the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, says that administration officials have “requested that all monitors, under our control, on the White Oak Campus, display FOX news.”

“Sorry for the inconvenience, but I am unable to change any of the monitors to any other news source at this time,” it reads. 

.@CharlesPPierce, Here’s a screen shot of the FDA email announcing all Fox, all the time.

Screen shot protects the sender. pic.twitter.com/cnRQ2ahJQ9

— Paul Thacker (@thackerpd) May 5, 2017

Another agency official told the Post that the memo had come from a customer service representative from the FDA’s Office of Facilities, not Trump administration higher-ups as the message claims.

President Trump himself is a professed fan of Fox News and often compliments the network’s coverage of his administration. At times, he has also responded publicly to segments aired on the channel.