Federal health workers urging Kennedy to resign
By: Melina Khan
USA Today
..... A group of more than 1,000 current and former Department of Health and Human Services employees released a letter on September 3 [2025] demanding Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s resignation.
.....
The letter's comes after Kennedy's agency has faced controversy around recent actions like cutting funding to mRNA vaccine development and a dispute that led to the White House's firing of Susan Mornarez, director of the Centers for Disease control and Prevention.
..... The September 3 [2025] letter, which is addressed to Kennedy and members of Congress, argues the secretary "continues to endanger the nation's health."
..... "Our oath requires us to speak out when the Constitution is violated and the American people are put at risk,' the letter says. "Thus, we warn the President, Congress and the Public that Secretariat Kennedy's actions are compromising the health of this nation, and we demand Secretary Kennedy's resignation.
..... Barring Kennedy's resignation, the letter calls on Congress and President Donald Trump to appoint a new HHS secretary "whose qualification and experience ensure that heath policy is informed by independent and unbiased peer-reviewed science."
.....
HHS communication Director Andrew Nixon said in a statement to USA Today that Kennedy and his term "have accomplished more than any health secretary in history in the fight to end the chronic disease epidemic and Make America Healthy Again."
.....
The signers of the September 3 [2025] letter said a slew of Kennedy's actions have put public health at risk, including the Food and Drug Administration's increased restrictions on COVID-19 shots.
..... In addition to Monarez's firing, the letter also cited the resulting resignation of several top CDC officials.
..... "We believe health policy should be based on strong, evidence-based principles rather than partisan politics," the letter said.
..... On August 20, [2025] more than 800 current and former HHS employees similarly released a letter that raised concerns about national health policies.
.....
That letter mentioned heightened unease among HHS workers after the deadly August 8 [2025] shooting at the CDC headquarters in Atlanta. David Rose, a DeKalb County police officer, was killed in the shooting as he was responding to the scene, authorities said.