New York, Aug 21(HS):
More than 750 current and former US federal health workers have openly condemned Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr, accusing him of spreading “dangerous and deceitful” misinformation that they say has endangered lives, eroded trust in institutions, and fueled recent violence at the CDC headquarters.
In a rare act of defiance, employees and alumni of the CDC, NIH, and HHS signed a letter to Congress and Kennedy, published on a site called Save HHS, alleging his rhetoric helped create an atmosphere of hostility toward public health officials. The move comes less than two weeks after a gunman fired 500 rounds at the CDC in Atlanta, killing Officer David Rose, an incident linked to the shooter’s mistrust of vaccines.
The letter cites Kennedy’s repeated claims that the CDC is a “cesspool of corruption,” his efforts to oust vaccine advisory committees, and his public doubts about vaccines, including amid a measles outbreak, as factors that have deepened public mistrust and put health workers at risk of harassment and violence. The signatories demanded Kennedy stop spreading false information, affirm CDC’s scientific credibility, and guarantee employee safety by September 2.
Kennedy has defended himself by emphasizing transparency as a path to rebuild trust, insisting he stands “firmly with CDC employees” in the wake of the shooting. However, critics—including major public health groups—say his staff cuts, vaccine skepticism, and repeated misinformation have systematically undermined America’s ability to respond to health emergencies.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar