Over 750 current and former staff members of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) are urging Director Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to cease “spreading inaccurate health information” and to protect public health officials. This comes in light of the recent shootings at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) headquarters.
A letter was sent on Wednesday, expressing concerns that Kennedy and some members of Congress have endangered employees with their statements. The staff highlighted that the attack on August 8 was “not random.”
“This attack is fueled by politicized rhetoric that has turned public health experts from trusted authorities into vilified targets in an era of increasing distrust in public institutions,” the letter read.
Law enforcement noted that the alleged shooter was skeptical of the Covid-19 vaccine and believed it had harmed him. Reports indicate that he discharged 500 rounds, hitting around 200 buildings and windows on the main Atlanta campus.
DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose lost his life during the confrontation, and the letter’s authors expressed a desire to honor him.
“The CDC is the leading defender of public health against both domestic and global health threats. Attacks on federal health agencies equate to attacks on America’s health. If the federal workforce isn’t safe, neither is the nation,” the letter emphasized.
The staff stressed they signed the letter as individuals, with some opting to remain anonymous “out of fear of retaliation and concern for personal safety.”
They accused Kennedy of trying to dismantle the U.S. public health framework and jeopardizing national health.
The letter outlined Kennedy’s remarks about the integrity of the CDC workforce, his push for dismantling the expert vaccine advisory panel, and misleading statements regarding measles and mRNA vaccines, among other allegations.
HHS did not provide immediate comments regarding the situation.
The day after the shooting, Kennedy shared a message on social media expressing support for public health workers. “No one should encounter violence while striving to safeguard the health of others,” he wrote. “We are actively supporting CDC staff and public health workers who consistently show up, even in challenging circumstances.”
Kennedy also visited the CDC headquarters and met with the agency’s new director, Susan Monares, during a day when many employees were advised to work from home.
However, Kennedy has not yet addressed the disinformation surrounding the Covid vaccine. When confronted during an interview with Scripps News about how he plans to curb false information to prevent similar incidents in the future, he did not provide a clear answer.
The letter urged Kennedy to “halt and publicly reject the continuation of false and misleading claims about vaccines, infectious disease transmission, and the U.S. public health agency.” It called for reaffirming the scientific integrity of the CDC and ensuring the safety of the HHS workforce.
“The intentional erosion of trust in the American public health workforce endangers lives. We encourage Americans, including friends and family, to prioritize the best interests of public health,” the letter concluded.
