Former U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams has criticized Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for his delayed and tepid response to the fatal shooting at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta. Adams argued that the shooting was a reflection of the ever-escalating threats public health workers face in a climate increasingly shaped by misinformation, politicization, and inflammatory rhetoric. He also noted other recent violent incidents, including a shooting at a Pennsylvania hospital and the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Adams called on federal leadership to condemn rhetoric that vilifies public health professionals, stop scapegoating public frustration onto health professionals, protect health care workers, and fund actionable solutions instead of just messaging.
Kennedy, who has condemned the horrific attack, has expressed his commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of CDC employees. He has extended his deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Officer David Rose, who was tragically killed. Adams called on federal leadership to condemn rhetoric that vilifies public health professionals, stop scapegoating public frustration onto health professionals, protect health care workers, and fund actionable solutions instead of just messaging.
