CDC Employees Call Out Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Over Misinformation and Lack of Leadership After Atlanta Shooting
In the wake of a shooting incident at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) headquarters in Atlanta on August 8, employees from the CDC, National Institutes of Health, and other health agencies have called for support and leadership from Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
A petition signed by hundreds of current and former HHS employees has been sent to Kennedy and members of Congress, asserting that Kennedy’s actions are undermining the integrity of America’s public health infrastructure and putting national health at risk. The letter accuses Kennedy of questioning the credibility of CDC staff, making unfounded claims about COVID vaccines, basing vaccine policy on ideology rather than scientific evidence, and fostering an environment that has led to harassment and violence towards CDC employees.
The gunman responsible for the shooting was reportedly motivated by his dissatisfaction with COVID vaccines, as per documents found in his home and statements from family members. The incident occurred on a Friday afternoon, towards the end of the workday, with the shooter targeting six buildings on the CDC campus. The tragedy resulted in the death of a responding police officer, 33-year-old David Rose, and the gunman himself.
Dr. Fiona Havers, a former CDC official and one of the petition signatories, emphasized the severity of the event and the need for increased support for public health workers. “This incident underscores the gravity of the situation and highlights the urgent need for reinforcements in our public health sector,” she said.
Dr. Elizabeth Soda, an infectious diseases physician at the CDC’s National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, returned to campus days after the shooting to retrieve her laptop. “I never imagined I would witness CDC in such a state, let alone see bullet holes on its walls,” she said, speaking independently from the agency. Soda had left the premises just half an hour before the shooting occurred and was in constant contact with colleagues during the incident.
Soda shared her concerns about the escalating politicization of science and health, which she believes has contributed to the violence directed towards public health workers. Havers echoed these sentiments, expressing concern over the recent surge in inflammatory rhetoric and misinformation regarding COVID vaccines, particularly from Kennedy and the administration.
CDC employees have criticized Kennedy’s response to the shooting, feeling that it lacked a clear defense of the CDC’s mission and work. Kennedy’s social media post offering support for CDC staff did not acknowledge the misinformation about COVID vaccines that authorities attributed as the shooter’s motivation. In an interview with Scripps News following the attack, Kennedy claimed that government officials were sometimes spreading inaccurate health information to persuade the public to get vaccinated during the pandemic. He also expressed distrust towards public health authorities, stating that trusting experts is not a characteristic of science or democracy but rather totalitarianism and religion.
The petition signatories are urging Kennedy to cease spreading misinformation about health matters, affirm the scientific integrity of the CDC, and ensure the safety of the HHS workforce. The petition requests a response from Kennedy by September 2.