At the CDC headquarters in Atlanta, employees now prioritize a low profile due to a pervasive fear of surveillance and repercussions following significant staffing changes since Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s appointment as health secretary. More than 10,000 experienced staff members have been dismissed, creating a chaotic work environment where deep-seated norms of scientific integrity are being challenged, and numerous research programs are being canceled for perceived “wokeness.”
Kennedy’s administration seeks to overhaul the CDC’s health initiatives and has controversially fired all members of the advisory committee on immunization practices, aiming to restore public confidence in vaccine science while claiming that vaccines are being politicized. Former committee members express concern over the implications of these actions, particularly the removal of Covid-19 vaccine recommendations for vulnerable populations.
Moreover, vital programs, such as those addressing childhood lead poisoning and chronic disease prevention, are reportedly being dismantled. Staff face operational struggles due to a lack of resources and added bureaucratic hurdles for grant approvals, undermining their ability to conduct necessary inspections and analysis.
While Kennedy promotes a vision to “Make America Healthy Again,” critiques of his methods suggest a risk of endangering public health instead. The internal atmosphere reflects anxiety, chaos, and uncertainty, with many employees feeling alienated from a regime they view as fundamentally anti-science.
