At the CDC headquarters in Atlanta, employees have adopted a cautious approach to avoid potential retaliation under the new leadership of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Following his appointment in February, over 10,000 experienced staff members were let go, causing turmoil and fear among remaining employees. Meetings are held discreetly, and many avoid using technology perceived as surveilling them.
Kennedy’s administration has shifted health priorities and prompted the cancellation of numerous research programs labeled as “woke,” leading to a chaotic environment that insiders believe will adversely affect public health. Dismantling longstanding programs, particularly in disease prevention, has raised alarms among health specialists, including the firing of all members of the advisory committee on immunization practices (ACIP).
Kennedy’s focus on vaccine policies and outdated methods, including a new initiative for vaccine development utilizing 1950s technology, has ignited significant controversy. Critics warn that these moves could undermine public health, especially as chronic disease prevention programs like the CDC’s lead-poisoning initiative are being shuttered.
Also impacted are agencies like the FDA, where operational staff cuts have hindered food safety inspections. Concerns about bureaucratic inefficiencies are growing, with additional layers added to grant processes, contradicting claims of improving government efficiency.
Former CDC team members have expressed reluctance to return under current conditions, citing a fundamental clash with the administration’s anti-science stance. For those remaining, anxiety and uncertainty prevail, with fears of long-term negative implications for both U.S. and global health.
