Over 750 current and former staff of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have signed a blunt letter to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who they blame for disseminating false information that they claim has put Americans in harm's way and eroded public health.
The historic letter, posted on the advocacy website Save HHS, accuses Kennedy of issuing "reckless and deceptive statements" that have inspired distrust, intimidation, and even violence against health workers.
The criticism comes after the 8 August Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) headquarters attack in Atlanta, where Patrick Joseph White, 30, opened fire with more than 500 bullets, killing a police officer. White repeatedly told investigators that he did not trust Covid-19 vaccines and blamed the vaccination for his depression.
In their letter, the signers attributed Kennedy's words to an atmosphere of hostility towards federal health agencies. "These false and menacing statements and tactics have contributed to harassment and violence against CDC employees," they stated.
The letter pointed to a number of Kennedy's previous statements, such as his labeling the CDC a "cesspool of corruption" and doubting the safety of the measles vaccine during an outbreak. It also condemned his move to dissolve an independent vaccine advisory committee and order drastic staff reductions.
"Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is complicit in dismantling America's public health infrastructure," the letter claimed, stating that his actions will compromise the nation's ability to respond successfully to future emergencies.
The letter, signed by workers at the CDC, the National Institutes of Health, and HHS, set out three specific demands:
Kennedy has up to 2 September to reply, although it is uncertain what will happen if he fails to.
Kennedy has defended his leadership style by highlighting openness. Speaking in a recent interview with Scripps News, he stated: "The way we make the public believe in us is by telling the truth – what we know and what we don't know."
After the CDC shooting, he also offered condolences, saying: "No one should experience violence while working to safeguard the health of others."
Nevertheless, the letter is an unprecedented rebuke from within the federal health workforce, highlighting the pervasive discomfort regarding Kennedy's leadership and his record of inflammatory comments about vaccines.
