The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been facing a difficult time due to the recent shooting and the subsequent layoffs. The Trump administration’s decision to terminate hundreds of employees following the attack has led to a low morale among agency staff, who have been dealing with trauma and hatred over the past seven months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The layoffs were unexpected and resulted in people losing access to agency systems as early as last Saturday. Many of the fired employees worked in the division of violence prevention, which was partly caused by mental health challenges and access to automatic weapons. The administration has also made thousands of small cuts to the agency, including a hiring freeze, employee travel restrictions, and unclear funding levels for the next fiscal year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Despite the frustration, agency staff have started speaking up and fighting back. A current employee believes that losing their jobs is a signal that there is no one protecting them or standing up for them at the highest levels of leadership. More people are finding their voice because they have nothing to lose, especially if they just lost their job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
More than 750 current and former employees sent a letter to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. calling on him to stop “spreading inaccurate health information” and do more to protect public health professionals in the wake of the shooting. HHS pushed back, citing Kennedy’s visit to the CDC and stating that ensuring the safety and well-being of CDC employees remains a top priority. The agency has stated that any attempt to politicize a tragedy with the violence of a suicidal mass shooter is an attempt to politicize a tragedy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n