At the CDC headquarters in Atlanta, employees are adopting a low profile amid fears of surveillance and dismissal under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has terminated over 10,000 staff since his appointment in February. This upheaval has disrupted longstanding scientific norms, causing chaos and dysfunction in health priorities, with many critical research programs being canceled or dismantled.
Insiders report a culture of paranoia, with staff avoiding open communication and relying on manual note-taking to protect sensitive discussions from potential recording. Kennedy’s policies have been criticized as “anti-science,” especially his actions regarding vaccine advisory committees and research funding processes.
Despite arguments from Kennedy’s supporters that the reforms are necessary for improving efficiency, many experts claim they threaten public health, pointing to closures of vital programs, such as lead poisoning prevention, and dramatic hiring freezes that compromise food safety inspections. As the situation unfolds, former and current staff express deep concerns for both their futures and the implications of these changes for American health.
