At the CDC headquarters in Atlanta, staff are adopting covert measures to navigate the unsettling atmosphere following extensive firings under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has dismissed over 10,000 employees since February. Employees are avoiding Zoom meetings and discussing sensitive topics in soundproof offices, fearing they are being monitored by officials from the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge). Under Kennedy’s leadership, longstanding health priorities have been shifted; many research programs canceled for being deemed “woke.”
Kennedy’s administration has sparked chaos and dysfunction, causing great concern for public health. While some view his reforms as necessary, insiders argue they threaten to dismantle crucial health infrastructure, including programs aimed at preventing chronic diseases and childhood lead poisoning. His controversial overhaul of vaccine policies has included firing the advisory committee on immunization practices and hiring less experienced members. Staff fear that such changes may politicize vaccines, undermining public health efforts.
Significant administrative challenges are emerging at agencies like the FDA, where mass firings have disrupted operations and increased bureaucracy. Many current employees express anxiety about the future, feeling the system is increasingly opaque and anti-science, with serious implications for public health both in the U.S. and abroad.
