A federal judge has issued an injunction prohibiting numerous high-ranking Biden administration officials from contacting or meeting with social media companies regarding online speech restrictions. The ruling stems from lawsuits filed by Republican attorneys general in Louisiana and Missouri, who argued the administration's actions likely violated the First Amendment by pressuring social media platforms to censor content deemed misinformation.

Judge Terry A. Doughty's injunction specifically names officials including White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, and Surgeon General Vivek Murthy. The injunction also temporarily restricts several federal agencies, including the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Department of Justice (DOJ), the FBI, and the State Department, from communicating with social media companies about content moderation.

The scope of the restriction within these agencies remains unclear, leaving questions about whether it applies to all employees or only specific individuals. HHS, which includes offices like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), did not respond to requests for comment, nor did DHS. The DOJ declined to comment.

In his ruling, Judge Doughty criticized the government's actions, describing them as a potential "Orwellian ‘Ministry of Truth’" and possibly the "most massive attack against free speech" in U.S. history. He argued the government's efforts appeared to primarily target conservative viewpoints, thereby infringing on First Amendment rights.