Federal CDC personnel issued deadline of 14 days to return to main office due to recent gunfire incident

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is preparing for its employees to return to the Atlanta headquarters by September 15, amidst a series of recent events that have impacted the organisation.

On August 28, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy sent an email to CDC employees, expressing confidence in the agency's political leadership and emphasising the importance of integrity, accountability, and science in every decision. This comes after the departure of CDC Director Susan Monarez, who was fired on August 27, and four other senior officials. The reasons for Monarez's removal remain unclear, with the White House stating that she was not aligned with the president or Kennedy.

The CDC has been facing other challenges as well. A gunman opposed to the COVID-19 vaccine fired hundreds of bullets at the CDC's Atlanta headquarters on August 8, killing a responding police officer before committing suicide. Significant progress has been made on repairs at the CDC's Roybal campus since the attack, but the current status of the window repairs is not publicly available. An enhanced security guard presence will be noticeable for the foreseeable future as employees return to the campus.

The CDC's workforce has also been affected, with a loss of nearly a quarter of its staff due to reductions in force and separation incentives. The department terminated its union contracts with the CDC on August 22, following an executive order from President Donald Trump.

Deputy HHS Secretary Jim O'Neill is currently acting as the CDC's director, and Lynda Chapman has taken over as the CDC's Chief Operating Officer. Chapman has informed employees whose offices are still damaged that alternative on-campus space will be provided. Some CDC employees have already returned to their Atlanta offices or have had to do so for lab work.

Leaders of the CDC's local AFGE have expressed fear and questioned the security improvements, stating that there will still be bullet holes in the windows. The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Monarez's attorneys stated that she was targeted for refusing to approve unscientific, reckless directives and for firing dedicated health experts. The reason for the replacement of the former acting COO, Christa Capozzola, with Chapman is not clear as HHS did not immediately respond to a follow-up request for comment about this matter.

As the CDC strengthens its security posture to protect employees and the campus, there will be things that will not be seen. The agency continues to work towards maintaining its mission of protecting public health and safety in the United States and around the world.