At the CDC headquarters in Atlanta, employees are adopting a low-profile approach, fearing surveillance and job loss under Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Since his appointment in February, over 10,000 staff members have been dismissed, leading to chaos and dysfunction within the agency. Employees express concerns over a new directive from Kennedy and the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), which has radically shifted health priorities, canceled research programs, and disrupted scientific norms.
Amid uncertainty, employees avoid Zoom meetings out of fear of being recorded and conduct private discussions in soundproof offices. The firing of experts, particularly from the advisory committee on immunisation practices, raises alarms about the politicization of vaccines. Critics warn that essential public health programs are being dismantled and funding shortages are hampering operations at the FDA and CDC.
Kennedy’s $500 million vaccine initiative and other health reforms lead to unrest and skepticism among staff. Many are not inclined to return to a workplace they see as increasingly anti-science. Current employees describe a tense atmosphere filled with anxiety and a lack of direction, fearing this upheaval may erode public health and safety.
