More than 750 public health workers from across the United States have sent a strongly worded letter to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., urging him to halt what they describe as the spread of inaccurate health information and to guarantee the safety of health workers. The letter, sent on August 20, 2025, comes in the wake of a deadly shooting at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) headquarters in Atlanta, an event that has shaken the public health community and reignited debate over the politicization of health policy.
The letter, signed by staffers from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the CDC, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH)—many of whom chose to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation—directly links the August 8 shooting to a climate of mistrust and hostility toward public health professionals. According to the signatories, this climate has been fueled by politicized rhetoric and misinformation, much of which they attribute to Kennedy himself.
Authorities identified the shooter as Patrick Joseph White, a 30-year-old Georgia resident who fired nearly 200 rounds at six CDC buildings, killing police officer David Rose before turning the gun on himself. Law enforcement officials later discovered written documents at White’s home expressing grievances related to the COVID-19 vaccine, which he believed had caused him harm. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation confirmed that these documents indicated White’s intent to make his discontent known, and that his actions were not random but rather the result of yearslong anger directed at federal health agencies.
In their letter, the public health workers did not mince words. They accused Kennedy—who has long been a prominent vaccine skeptic—of being “complicit in dismantling America’s public health infrastructure and endangering the nation’s health by repeatedly spreading inaccurate health information.” The letter cited several examples, including Kennedy’s claim that mRNA vaccines “fail to protect effectively” against upper respiratory infections such as COVID-19 and the flu, despite years of scientific research supporting their safety and efficacy. The signatories also pointed to Kennedy’s decision to wind down mRNA vaccine development and his removal of all 17 members of the CDC’s vaccine advisory panel in June 2025.
The letter further condemned Kennedy for describing the CDC as a “cesspool of corruption” in a social media post, and for what they called “dangerous and deceitful statements and actions” that have contributed to harassment and violence against CDC employees. “The deliberate destruction of trust in America’s public health workforce puts lives at risk,” the letter read. “We urge you to act in the best interest of the American people—your friends, your families, and yourselves.”
One CDC staffer, who signed the letter anonymously due to safety concerns, told ABC News, “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.” Dr. Shiv Prasad, a scientific review officer at the NIH who also signed the letter, expressed similar sentiments. “One is the misinformation that’s being spread, especially concerning vaccines and COVID-19, and it has a way of vilifying federal workers who are working every day to ensure the health of Americans. I’m concerned about the safety of HHS workers ... I think we are all potential targets now.”
The letter called on Kennedy to take three specific actions by September 2, 2025: to stop spreading inaccurate health information, to affirm the scientific integrity of the CDC, and to guarantee the safety of HHS employees. The signatories urged Kennedy to implement emergency procedures and alerts to protect workers and to publicly recommit to nonpartisan, science-based leadership. “Our asks in the letter are genuine, and we certainly hope that Secretary Kennedy will hold true to his oath and do his best to, you know, advance science and affirm that CDC does scientific, nonpartisan work,” the CDC staffer added. “We certainly hold that hope, and you know that I would say that our desire for that, and our hope for that is genuine.”
The fallout from the shooting and the subsequent letter has put Kennedy and the Trump administration’s health policies under renewed scrutiny. Kennedy, who was one of President Donald Trump’s most controversial Cabinet nominees, has faced repeated criticism from the medical establishment for his stance on vaccines and his willingness to question mainstream public health guidance. During his confirmation hearings, he was grilled by Senators over his history of promoting vaccine skepticism and for repeating the debunked claim that vaccines cause autism.
In response to the letter and the shooting, HHS issued a statement to ABC News and TIME, saying, “Secretary 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. In the wake of this heartbreaking shooting, he traveled to Atlanta to offer his support and reaffirm his deep respect, calling the CDC ‘a shining star among global health agencies.’” The statement continued, “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. Any attempt to conflate widely supported public health reforms with the violence of a suicidal mass shooter is an attempt to politicize a tragedy.”
The day after the shooting, Kennedy posted condolences to Officer Rose’s family on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “We know how shaken our public health colleagues feel today. No one should face violence while working to protect the health of others. 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.”
CDC Director Susan Monarez also addressed the attack and its aftermath in a staff meeting, according to NBC News. “We know that misinformation can be dangerous,” she said. “Not only to health, but to those that trust us and those we want to trust. We need to rebuild the trust together.”
Some signatories of the letter, including Dr. Prasad, expressed concerns not just about Kennedy but also about NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, who recently supported Kennedy’s decision to cancel $500 million in federal funding for mRNA vaccine development. Prasad noted, “These things are not accepted by the field and, again, it’s misinformation, and it could lead to—it could put us at risk.”
The letter’s authors made clear that their demands are not political but rooted in a desire for safety, scientific integrity, and public trust. As the September 2 deadline approaches, the public health community—and the nation—will be watching closely to see how Kennedy responds to their call for action.
