Massive CDC walkout erupts amid internal chaos
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Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks at a press conference in April. Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images
Dozens of staff members and leaders at the CDC staged a walkout Thursday in response to the internal shake-up of top federal health officials.
Why it matters: The CDC has been grappling with internal turmoil that escalated Wednesday, when its director was ousted and other officials exited in a wave of resignations.
Driving the news: Staff began their "clap out" protest — where staffers march, hold signs and clap — Thursday just outside the CDC's Atlanta headquarters to support staff who had resigned, according to one staff member at the protest who asked to remain anonymous due to fear of repercussions.
- Top officials who resigned were escorted out of the CDC's offices Thursday morning around 10am, the staffer and multiple outlets said.
Flashback: The clap out protest comes as new policies announced by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appear to be driving out senior officials.
- On Wednesday, Susan Monarez was ousted as CDC director just weeks after being sworn in. Her lawyers immediately disputed a claim that she had left the post. The White House confirmed she was terminated.
- Demetre Daskalakis, who was director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said recent policy changes surrounding the COVID vaccine threatened lives and there had been an "intentional eroding of trust in low-risk vaccines."
- Other departing officials include CDC chief medical officer Debra Houry and Daniel Jernigan, director of the CDC's National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Axios reported.
The big picture: CDC staff and other national health workers have been raging against Kennedy in recent weeks following eight months of upheaval, layoffs and grant terminations since he took over as HHS secretary.
- The angst against Kennedy reached a boiling point after the shooting at CDC headquarters earlier this month.
- More than 750 HHS employees went public on Aug. 20 with a letter sent to Kennedy and Congress accusing him of contributing to harassment and violence against government employees.
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