More than 750 current and former federal health employees have accused Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr of fuelling harassment and violence directed at government healthcare staff. In a letter sent to Kennedy and members of Congress, the group claims his rhetoric contributed to the 8 August attack at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) headquarters in Atlanta, where a gunman opened fire, killing a police officer.
The workers cite Kennedy's decisions, such as removing members from a CDC vaccine advisory panel, questioning the safety of the measles vaccine, and firing key CDC staff, as actions that sow distrust in federal medical professionals. They argue that Kennedy's statements played a role in the attack, as law enforcement officials said the gunman blamed a Covid-19 vaccine for his depression and suicidal thoughts.
The letter urges Kennedy to “cease and publicly disavow the ongoing dissemination of false and misleading claims about vaccines, infectious disease transmission, and America’s public health institutions”. It also asks him to take “vigorous action” to eliminate online content targeting federal employees, including “DEI watchlists”. The workers demand a response by 2 September.
In response, HHS said: “Secretary Kennedy is standing firmly with CDC employees – both on the ground and across every center – ensuring their safety and wellbeing remain a top priority.” The statement added that Kennedy travelled to Atlanta after the shooting to offer support and reaffirmed his deep respect for the CDC, calling it “a shining star among global health agencies”.
The letter comes a day after the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) urged that children as young as six months receive the Covid-19 vaccine, diverging from current federal guidance. Kennedy responded on social media by accusing the AAP of failing to disclose conflicts of interest.
