On Wednesday, over 750 public health professionals dispatched a letter to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., demanding he “cease disseminating inaccurate health information” and guarantee the safety of employees, following a shooting incident earlier this month at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) headquarters.
The correspondence—endorsed by both identified and anonymous current and former staff members from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), CDC, and National Institutes of Health, who specified they signed in their “own personal capacities”—asserted that the assault on the CDC’s Atlanta headquarters on August 8 “was not random.”
“The assault occurred amidst increasing distrust in public institutions, fueled by politically charged rhetoric that has transformed public health professionals from trusted experts into targets of vilification—and now, violence,” stated public health workers in the letter, which was also addressed to members of Congress. “The CDC serves as a public health leader in America’s defense against health threats domestically and globally. When a federal health agency is attacked, America’s health is jeopardized. When the federal workforce is not secure, America is not secure.”
The public health workers proceeded to accuse Kennedy, a prominent critic of vaccines, of being “complicit in dismantling America’s public health infrastructure and endangering the nation’s health by consistently spreading inaccurate health information.” They referenced several declarations and actions made by Kennedy in recent months, highlighting his assertion that mRNA vaccines “fail to effectively protect” against upper respiratory infections such as COVID-19—despite evidence demonstrating the shots are both safe and effective—and his announcement that HHS would be phasing out mRNA vaccine development. They further denounced his decision to dismiss all experts from a crucial vaccine advisory committee. Additionally, they claimed some of Kennedy’s previous remarks—such as his statement that there is a “cesspool of corruption at CDC”—were “sowing public mistrust” in the health agency.
The public health workers expressed their desire to honor police officer David Rose, who tragically died while responding to the August attack on the CDC headquarters.
HHS declared in a statement to TIME that Kennedy “is standing firmly with CDC employees—both on the ground and across every center—ensuring their safety and well-being remain a top priority.” The agency added that, after the shooting earlier this month, Kennedy traveled to Atlanta and lauded the CDC as “a shining star” among global health agencies.
“For the first time in its 70-year history, the mission of HHS is truly resonating with the American people—driven by President Trump and Secretary Kennedy’s bold commitment to Make America Healthy Again,” HHS asserted. “Any attempt to conflate widely supported public health reforms with the violence of a suicidal mass shooter is an attempt to politicize a tragedy.”
Law enforcement officials reported they discovered evidence that the suspect in the August shooting, identified as Patrick Joseph White of Georgia, attributed his health issues to the COVID-19 vaccine. White was found deceased at the scene, with authorities later confirming he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
CDC Director Susan Monarez acknowledged the dangers posed by misinformation during a staff meeting following the attack. “We know that misinformation can be dangerous,” she stated, according to reports. “Not only to health, but to those that trust us and those we want to trust. We need to rebuild the trust together.”
The day after the shooting, Kennedy extended his condolences to Rose’s family in a post on X.
“We know how shaken our public health colleagues feel today. No one should face violence while working to protect the health of others,” he commented. “We are actively supporting CDC staff on the ground and across the agency. Public health workers show up every day with purpose—even in moments of grief and uncertainty. We honor their service. We stand with them. And we remain united in our mission to protect and improve the health of every American.”
Kennedy was one of President Donald Trump’s nominees, and faced scrutiny from Senators during his confirmation. He has previously provoked outrage from the medical community for spreading misinformation, including reiterating the debunked claim that vaccines cause autism.
In their letter, public health workers alleged that Kennedy’s “dangerous and deceitful statements and actions have contributed to the harassment and violence experienced by CDC staff.” They urged him to undertake three actions by September 2 to “uphold his pledge to safeguard the health of the American public,” including asking him to “stop spreading inaccurate health information,” particularly concerning vaccines, infectious disease transmission, and the nation’s public health institutions. They also implored him to affirm the scientific integrity of the CDC and guarantee the safety of HHS employees, such as through emergency procedures and alerts.
“The deliberate destruction of trust in America’s public health workforce jeopardizes lives,” they concluded in the letter. “We urge you to act in the best interest of the American people—your friends, your families, and yourselves.”