Federal employees at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are being ordered to return to their headquarters within the next two weeks following a recent on-site shooting.
CDC Headquarters to Resume In-Person Work, Enhanced Security Measures in Place
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has ordered its headquarters employees to return to work in-person by Sept. 15, with enhanced security measures in place following a shooting incident on August 8.
In an email to staffers, the former acting COO of the CDC, Christa Capozzola, mentioned an "enhanced security guard presence" for the foreseeable future. She also noted that there are things that will not be seen as they strengthen security to protect employees and the campus.
The shooting incident at the CDC headquarters on the Roybal Campus in Atlanta resulted in the death of a responding police officer and the suicide of a gunman opposed to the COVID-19 vaccine. Repairs on the campus have made significant progress since the attack.
CDC Director Susan Monarez was fired on Aug. 27, after being in the position for about a month. Her removal led to the resignations of four other senior officials. Monarez's attorneys stated that she was targeted for refusing to "rubber-stamp unscientific, reckless directives" and firing dedicated health experts.
Deputy HHS Secretary Jim O'Neill is currently serving as the acting director of the CDC. In an email to CDC employees on Aug. 28, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., expressed confidence in the political leadership at CDC. He stated that "reform does not diminish your work; it strengthens it" and that the American people are ready to believe in the CDC again if it shows that integrity, accountability, and science guide every decision.
Some CDC employees have already returned to their Atlanta offices voluntarily or due to lab work. CDC Chief Operating Officer Lynda Chapman told employees whose offices are still damaged that "alternative on-campus space will be provided."
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) terminated its union contracts with the CDC on Aug. 22. The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Health and Human Services Department confirmed the return-to-office date but did not address questions regarding employee anxiety and the state of building repairs. Leaders of the CDC's local union expressed concerns about employee safety, stating that there will still be bullet holes in the windows.
The White House stated that Monarez was not aligned with President Donald Trump or HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. After the shooting incident, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services took immediate response actions including on-site law enforcement intervention and ongoing investigations; however, specific additional security measures implemented to improve CDC staff safety following the incident have not been detailed in the available sources.
The CDC's workforce has lost nearly a quarter of its staff through reductions in force and separation incentives. HHS did not immediately respond to a follow-up request for comment about why Capozzola was replaced with Chapman. Kennedy, Jr., who is known for spreading misinformation about vaccines, expressed confidence in the political leadership at CDC on Aug. 28.
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