Deadly CDC Atlanta Shooting Sparks Union Calls for Stronger Workplace Security

Following the deadly shooting at the CDC's Atlanta headquarters, where DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose was killed, CDC employees and their union have expressed deep trauma and urgent concerns about workplace safety. The union has called on HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the Trump administration to implement stronger security measures and publicly denounce vaccine misinformation, which many blame for fostering hostility that contributed to the violence. Employees report heightened fears and question the adequacy of building security, including bulletproofing and cell reception, as they continue to work remotely while investigations proceed. Critics accuse Kennedy of spreading vaccine disinformation that has eroded public trust and endangered CDC staff, with many staffers hoping for his resignation or at least a clear, strong stance against such rhetoric. Public health workers and allies have rallied to grieve and demand accountability, emphasizing the need to end the vilification of CDC employees and ensure their safety. Kennedy visited the CDC campus to assess damage and pledged commitment to staff safety, though employees and advocates say more decisive action is needed to protect public health workers from future threats.