The White House has not approved requests for television interviews with Fauci, an official says.

CNN and other television networks routinely request interviews with Fauci and other task force experts, but some of the requests have been blocked by the Trump White House.

An administration official familiar with the situation said high-profile figures from the task force, including Fauci, have been unable to obtain permission from the White House to appear on US television networks.

The official cautioned that this is exactly the wrong approach as cases are on the rise in the U.S.

“Now is the time to send a strong public health message,” said the official, citing the urgent crisis in the southern and southwestern states.

Fauci has been able to appear in podcasts and webcasts, forums, in many cases, which are not so visible to the president and his assistants.

Her last appearance on American television was on June 12 on CNN. Most recently, she has spoken to the Sacramento Press Club, appeared on a live broadcast of the Milken Institute briefing, and called a podcast called “Science Vs.”

His appearances have improved this week: He spoke to NPR, plus a radio show in the UK and an internet broadcast with the Journal of the American Medical Association.

It also came to CNN indirectly on June 28 through a webcam interview with CNN’s Elizabeth Cohen for the Aspen Ideas Festival, which was streamed online. CNN then replayed part of the interview on television.

Birx, the coronavirus task force response coordinator, and other officials have also appeared at public events with Vice President Mike Pence.

But his absence on larger television sets, such as ABC’s “World News Tonight” and Sean Hannity’s Fox News show, has been evident and has sparked complaints from network producers.

Public health experts have also said the trend is worrisome.

Public health and communication “are inextricably linked,” Dr. Richard Besser, a former interim CDC director, said on the “Trusted Sources” podcast last month.

Besser, now CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, said there has been “virtually radio silence at the federal level from political leaders and public health leaders in terms of where we are and what needs to be done.”

This is due in part to the president’s denial of the crisis.

One thing that holds Fauci back is his frankness. The administration source said White House officials see Fauci too candid during their interviews, too “pessimistic.” Birx is seen as a more reliable team player within the administration.

But it is Fauci’s direct attitude at bedside that has made him one of the nation’s most popular public figures.

CNN’s analysis of interviews with task force members showed that FDA Commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn appeared on two local television stations earlier this week, followed by ABC’s “Good Morning America” Thursday. (Hahn will also be on CNN’s “State of the Union” this Sunday.)

Dr. Jerome Adams, the surgeon general, appeared on NBC’s “Today” show on Friday and evaded questions about whether it is appropriate for the president to attend large meetings this weekend.

“Each person has to make their own decision,” said Adams.

In addition to a local radio interview in late June, Adams had not been on the air in weeks. Instead, she has been posting messages on social media.

Alex Azar, Secretary of Health and Human Services, gave interviews to CNN, NBC and ABC in late June.

Dr. Robert Redfield, the CDC director, has been off the air for weeks, although he held a conference call for journalists on June 25.

Many of the task force members were also in attendance at the coronavirus task force television meeting on June 26, the first of its kind in approximately two months.

There has been no other such report since then.

–– CNN’s Ali Main, Nicky Robertson and Sam Fossum contributed to the reports.