CDC Atlanta staff mourn officer one year after shooting

One year after a gunman opened fire outside the CDC’s Atlanta headquarters, killing a police officer, staff gathered on Thursday to mark the anniversary as Robert F. Kennedy Jr. attended a remembrance event. The shooting happened on an August afternoon during rush hour, when Patrick Joseph White fired hundreds of rounds at the CDC campus. White, who later killed himself, left writings criticizing COVID-19 vaccines. Among his victims was 33-year-old DeKalb County officer David Rose, whose death left the agency and the community in shock.

The timing of Kennedy’s visit added tension to the day. As health secretary, Kennedy has overseen sweeping cuts to CDC programs, prompting criticism that his presence overshadowed the memorial. Staff unveiled a plaque honoring Officer Rose in a private ceremony, followed by a closed town hall led by Kennedy, NIH director Jay Bhattacharya, and acting CDC director. Reporters were barred from both events, limiting public insight into the day’s tone.

Staff reactions were mixed. Some current and former employees said Kennedy’s presence felt like an insult on a day meant to honor Rose. One longtime worker, who hid inside a building during the 2023 attack and asked not to be named, called the timing “pretty offensive.” Others described the anniversary as one more reminder of a difficult year at the agency, marked by layoffs and funding cuts tied to Kennedy’s leadership. The Trump administration has defended the reductions as efforts to eliminate waste and fraud.

The broader impact is still unfolding. Kennedy’s attendance highlights the tension between remembrance and policy, as cuts continue to reshape the CDC. With morale low and staff departures mounting, the agency faces fresh scrutiny over its direction. The anniversary serves as a reminder of both loss and the ongoing debate over public health leadership.