Workers at the CDC’s Building 21 in Atlanta are adopting a cautious approach, fearing surveillance and repercussions following significant staff firings since Robert F. Kennedy Jr. became health secretary. Over 10,000 employees have been dismissed, leading to a sense of disorder within the agency as health priorities are realigned and longstanding research programs are cancelled for being deemed “woke.”
Insiders describe a chaotic environment, where employees scour for basic supplies, and the integrity of health initiatives is questioned. Kennedy’s controversial actions, particularly in reshaping vaccine policies and dismantling critical health programs like the childhood lead-poisoning prevention initiative, raise concerns about public health implications. Critics argue that these changes may reverse progress made over decades and create inefficiencies, contradicting Kennedy’s pledge for reform.
While Kennedy’s team touts the efficiency of their cuts, employees report added bureaucracy instead. Many fired workers express reluctance to return to an anti-science environment, citing a lack of clarity and direction. Current staff share a pervasive anxiety about the future of public health under this administration, fearing detrimental outcomes for both Americans and global communities.
