In Building 21 of the CDC in Atlanta, a climate of fear prevails among staff, with many avoiding Zoom meetings and conversing only in soundproof offices due to concerns about monitoring by the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge). Since Robert F Kennedy Jr took the helm as health secretary in February, over 10,000 long-serving staff have been dismissed as he embarks on a radical overhaul of the US health infrastructure. Inside sources reveal that essential research programs are being dismantled, and resources are dwindling, leading to drastic measures such as scavenging office supplies.
Kennedy’s controversial policies have disrupted long-standing scientific norms, with the firing of the vaccine advisory committee’s members raising alarms over the potential politicization of vaccines. Critics, including former committee members, express extreme concern about the implications for public health, highlighting the closure of vital programs aimed at preventing chronic diseases, such as the childhood lead-poisoning initiative.
While Kennedy claims his reforms will drive “bold, necessary changes,” insiders describe chaos and dysfunction threatening to undermine health initiatives. Reports indicate increased bureaucracy in grant processes, raising questions over the actual implementation of Kennedy’s agenda amid ongoing disruptions. Many employees express disillusionment, indicating that the changes being made are fundamentally anti-science and detrimental to public health.
