U.S Health Workers Accuse RFK Jr. of Endangering CDC Staff

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More than 750 current and former federal health employees have accused Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. of fueling threats and violence against U.S. public health workers.

In a letter sent Wednesday to Kennedy and members of Congress, the group claimed that his rhetoric and policy decisions have contributed to harassment of staff at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The letter cited actions such as removing members from a CDC vaccine advisory panel, questioning the safety of the measles vaccine, and dismissing senior CDC staff. According to the signatories, these moves have undermined trust in federal medical institutions and created a hostile environment for public health employees.

The employees linked Kennedy’s conduct to the August 8 attack on CDC headquarters in Atlanta, where authorities said a Georgia man opened fire on four CDC buildings, killing a police officer. Investigators reported that the attacker blamed a COVID-19 vaccine for his mental health struggles and targeted the agency specifically.

Kennedy condemned political violence as “wrong” in a recent interview but did not directly address the attacker’s motive.

The letter urged Kennedy to stop spreading “false and misleading claims about vaccines, infectious disease transmission, and America’s public health institutions.” It further accused him of weakening the nation’s health infrastructure and endangering the public by promoting inaccurate health information.

The signatories also called on HHS to recognize the CDC’s role in providing “scientific, non-partisan evidence focused on improving the health of every American” and to ensure staff can work without threats. They asked Kennedy to take stronger measures against online campaigns targeting federal workers, including watchlists and intimidation tactics.

The letter requested a formal response from Kennedy by September 2.

The controversy emerged shortly after the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommended COVID-19 vaccination for children as young as six months, a position that diverges from current federal guidance. Kennedy criticized the AAP’s stance on social media, alleging undisclosed conflicts of interest.