At the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) headquarters in Atlanta, employees are adopting a low-profile approach due to fears of surveillance and instability following the appointment of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as health secretary. Over 10,000 staff have been fired, causing chaos as remaining workers navigate a new environment where meetings and discussions are held cautiously to evade oversight from the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge).
Kennedy’s administration has disrupted scientific norms, cancelled research programs deemed “woke,” and seen long-established health initiatives, such as chronic disease prevention, dismantled. While Kennedy’s supporters argue for necessary reforms, insiders express concerns that these changes could worsen public health. The abrupt firing of an advisory committee on immunization practices has raised alarms, with ex-members fearing for vaccine availability.
Insiders report severe resource constraints with staff scavenging for basic supplies, and there are complaints about increased bureaucracy despite claims of streamlining. The closures of crucial programs, like childhood lead-poisoning prevention, have left communities vulnerable.
Amidst confusion over leadership and policy direction, many former employees express reluctance to return, criticizing the administration for being anti-science and displaying an anti-scientific approach that could lead to detrimental health outcomes. The overarching sentiment among staff is one of anxiety and uncertainty about the future impact on public health at home and globally.
