More than 750 employees across the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have signed a letter addressed to Congress and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The workers are demanding that Kennedy stop spreading vaccine misinformation and take urgent steps to protect the safety of CDC and HHS staff.
The letter was sent just days after the August 8, 2025 CDC shooting in Atlanta, where a gunman opened fire at the agency’s headquarters, killing a police officer.
What We Know About the CDC Shooting
The 30-year-old gunman had a long history of anger toward the COVID-19 vaccine.
He believed the vaccine harmed his health, and investigators found written plans at his home detailing his intent to target the CDC.
Employees say this tragedy was “not random,” but instead fueled by anti-vaccine rhetoric and politicized attacks on public health officials.
What the HHS Letter Says
The employees accuse Kennedy of endangering the lives of federal health workers by spreading false information about vaccines and undermining public health agencies.
The letter highlights several examples, including:
Kennedy calling the CDC a “cesspool of corruption” on social media.
His repeated claims that mRNA vaccines failed to protect against COVID-19 and flu.
His long history of vaccine skepticism, including the false statement that the COVID vaccine was “the deadliest vaccine ever made.”
One CDC staffer told ABC News anonymously:
“As part of my oath as a public health professional to stay true to the science and help people, it just felt like I needed to speak up in some way.”
HHS Response to the Criticism
In a statement, HHS defended Kennedy, saying he “stands firmly with CDC employees” and has made safety a top priority.
The agency added that, under President Trump and Secretary Kennedy, the mission of HHS is resonating more strongly with the American public, driven by the promise to “Make America Healthy Again.”
What Employees Are Demanding
The signatories asked Kennedy to take specific steps by September 2, 2025, including:
Stopping the spread of inaccurate health information
Affirming the scientific integrity of the CDC
Guaranteeing the safety of the HHS workforce
Dr. Shiv Prasad of the NIH, one of the signatories, explained his concerns:
“I’m concerned about misinformation surrounding vaccines and COVID-19 … and the safety of HHS workers. I think we are all potential targets now.”
Bigger Implications: Vaccine Policy & Trust
This letter follows Kennedy’s controversial move to cancel $500 million in federal funding for mRNA vaccine development, a decision backed by NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya.
Critics say such decisions, paired with misleading vaccine claims, risk eroding public trust and putting health workers in danger.
As one employee put it:
“Our asks in the letter are genuine. We hope Secretary Kennedy will advance science and affirm the CDC’s nonpartisan work.”