At Building 21 of the CDC in Atlanta, employees operate in a climate of fear and secrecy, largely due to the recent leadership changes under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Since his appointment in February, over 10,000 staff members have been fired, causing widespread anxiety among the remaining workforce at the CDC, FDA, and NIH. Workers report that discussions are held in soundproof rooms, Zoom meetings are avoided, and small notebooks are favored for notes to prevent surveillance.
Kennedy’s administration has disrupted longstanding scientific protocols, leading to the cancellation of numerous research programs deemed “woke,” as officials lament the dismantling of crucial health infrastructure. Critics, including former CDC experts, warn that the mass firings and added bureaucracy threaten public health, particularly in vaccine policy, which Kennedy has controversially politicized.
While Kennedy promotes improving food quality and reducing chronic diseases, insiders contend that the necessary expert teams are being diminished, foreshadowing significant health setbacks. The uncertainty surrounding the future of health initiatives and the apparent inefficiencies introduced raise grave concerns for the impact on American public health. Many employees express disillusionment with the current administration’s anti-science stance and indicate they would not return to work even if legally permitted.
