{"id":2476802,"date":"2025-08-20T14:39:01","date_gmt":"2025-08-20T18:39:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hundreds-of-hhs-staff-call-on-rfk-jr-to-condemn-health-misinformation-following-cdc-shooting\/"},"modified":"2025-08-20T14:42:24","modified_gmt":"2025-08-20T18:42:24","slug":"hundreds-of-hhs-staff-call-on-rfk-jr-to-condemn-health-misinformation-following-cdc-shooting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hundreds-of-hhs-staff-call-on-rfk-jr-to-condemn-health-misinformation-following-cdc-shooting\/","title":{"rendered":"Hundreds of HHS staff call on RFK Jr. to condemn health misinformation following CDC shooting"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">30<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fhundreds-of-hhs-staff-call-on-rfk-jr-to-condemn-health-misinformation-following-cdc-shooting%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2476802&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>This article reports that over 750 current and former staff members of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have urged HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to publicly condemn health misinformation. Their appeal follows a shooting at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) headquarters in Atlanta, where the gunman blamed the COVID-19 vaccine for causing depression and suicidal thoughts. The staffers&#8217; letter accuses Kennedy of contributing to the erosion of public trust in vaccines and public health by spreading doubts about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/here-are-four-democrats-who-fueled-vaccine-skepticism-while-trump-was-in-office\/\" title=\"Here Are Four Democrats Who Fueled Vaccine Skepticism While Trump Was In Office\">vaccine safety<\/a> and effectiveness, which they say has led to harassment and violence against CDC employees.Some signatories expressed fear of retaliation and chose to remain anonymous. Although Kennedy condemned the violence, he did not address vaccine misinformation. The letter demands that Kennedy stop spreading false claims about vaccines and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/navy-reading-checklist-includes-anti-racism-guide-for-sailors\/\" title=\"Navy Reading Checklist Includes Anti-Racism Guide for Sailors\">public health institutions<\/a> and requests a written response by September 2. A CDC employee union similarly warned that misinformation endangers staff safety, highlighting concern that the current rhetoric from HHS leadership has legitimized such misinformation. <br \/> <!DOCTYPE html><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<div id=\"ld-4686-3758\"><\/div>\n<p><script>(function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:14832835450050406,size:[0, 0],id:\"ld-4686-3758\"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src=\"https:\/\/cdn2.decide.dev\/_js\/ajs.js\";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,\"script\",\"ld-ajs\");<\/script><\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Hundreds of HHS staff call on RFK Jr. to condemn health misinformation following CDC shooting<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2207492\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>More than 750 former and current Department of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/health-and-human-services\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Health and Human Services<\/a> staff have called on Secretary <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/robert-f-kennedy-jr\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Robert F. Kennedy Jr.<\/a> to condemn misinformation in the health space.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Their request comes after a shooting at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/cdc\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/a> headquarters in Atlanta earlier this month in which the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/healthcare\/3495863\/gunman-cdc-shooting-blame-covid-vaccine-suicidal\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">gunman claimed<\/a> the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/covid-vaccination\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">COVID-19 vaccine<\/a> made him depressed and suicidal.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/in_focus\/3499260\/republicans-push-limits-revamp-campaign-finance-operations\/\">Republicans push the limits to revamp campaign finance operations<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3762611\/colorado-lawmaker-policy-group-react-social-media\/\">Lawmakers, policy groups react to social media warning suit<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/3760478\/stephen-miller-stupid-white-hippies-union-station-vance-hegseth\/\">Stephen Miller blasts &#8216;stupid white hippies&#8217; during Union Station visit with Vance and Hegseth<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;The attack came amid growing mistrust in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-announces-new-legal-team-for-impeachment-defense-after-previous-team-collapsed\/\" title=\"Trump Announces New Legal Team For Impeachment Defense After Previous Team Collapsed\">public institutions<\/a>, driven by politicized rhetoric that has turned public health professionals from trusted experts into targets of villainization &ndash; and now, violence,&rdquo; the staffers wrote in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.savehhs.org\/letter\/hhs-staff-response-to-the-august-8th-attack\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">letter.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>The letter accused Kennedy of being &ldquo;complicit in dismantling America&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrat-rep-credits-bidens-leadership-for-vanishing-mask-mandates\/\" title=\"Democrat Rep. Credits \u2018Biden\u2019s Leadership\u2019 For Vanishing Mask Mandates\">public health infrastructure<\/a> and endangering the nation&rsquo;s health&rdquo; by suggesting that COVID-19 vaccines are not safe or effective and sowing doubt in the public about other vaccines. The letter alleges that this contributed to &ldquo;harassment and violence experienced by the CDC staff.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The staffers noted that they signed the letter in their &ldquo;own personal capacities.&rdquo; Some said they signed it anonymously &ldquo;out of fear of retaliation and personal safety.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Earlier this month, a gunman approached the CDC main campus when his gunfire struck six buildings. CDC employees barricaded themselves in offices and hid in fear. A police officer was killed, and the gunman killed himself.<\/p>\n<p>Kennedy has for years expressed skepticism about certain vaccines. He removed every member of the CDC&rsquo;s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and reversed several vaccine policies in recent weeks.<\/p>\n<p>After the shooting, Kennedy condemned the violence, but did not directly touch on <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >anti-vaccine sentiment expressed<\/a> against the CDC.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The letter asked Kennedy to &ldquo;cease and publicly disavow the ongoing dissemination of false and misleading claims about vaccines, infectious disease transmission, and America&rsquo;s public health institutions.&rdquo; The letter asked for a written response from Kennedy by Sept. 2.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/healthcare\/3494107\/future-cancer-treatment-uncertain-mrna-vaccine-cuts\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>FUTURE OF CANCER TREATMENT UNCERTAIN WITH MRNA VACCINE CUTS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>A union representing employees at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention similarly <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3496250\/cdc-shooting-union-warns-vaccine-disinformation-put-staff-at-risk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">warned Kennedy<\/a> that misinformation surrounding vaccines created a dangerous environment.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The fact that the inflammatory rhetoric and misinformation about COVID vaccines is now coming from the HHS Secretary and from the administration has fueled it and given it legitimacy it may not have had before,&rdquo; Dr. Fiona Havers, a former CDC official and a signatory on the letter who left the agency in June, told <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/shots-health-news\/2025\/08\/20\/nx-s1-5507208\/after-shooting-cdc-workers-demand-more-protections-from-hhs-secretary\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">National Public Radio<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>750+ HHS staff urge RFK Jr. to denounce health misinformation<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2910,"featured_media":2476803,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/AP25225619388062.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[61625,56063,8235,32458],"class_list":["post-2476802","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-cdc-shooting","tag-health-misinformation","tag-hhs","tag-rfk-jr"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/AP25225619388062.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2476802","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2910"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2476802"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2476802\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2476811,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2476802\/revisions\/2476811"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2476803"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2476802"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2476802"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2476802"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}