CDC Fires 600 Staff After HQ Shooting Fallout

By: Paul Goldberg, Senior Editor | JRL CHARTS – LGBT Politics (Health & Medicine)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — (August 21, 2025) — Just two weeks after a gunman opened fire at CDC headquarters in Atlanta — spraying 500 rounds of ammunition and killing a police officer — the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has fired 600 employees, the American Federation of Government Employees confirmed.

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The notices went out this week, but union leaders say many staff still haven’t received official paperwork. The AFGE represents more than 2,000 dues-paying CDC members and blasted the timing of the cuts as “cruel and unlawful separations” that compound trauma from the August 8th headquarters massacre.

Federal Judge Couldn’t Stop the Firings

A federal judge in Rhode Island temporarily shielded certain CDC divisions, including reproductive health, smoking prevention, workplace safety, and sexually transmitted disease research. But other divisions — including the Freedom of Information office and the Division of Violence Prevention — were left exposed.

As a result, hundreds of jobs were finalized this week, with many programs gutted, including those aimed at rape prevention, child abuse reduction, and teen dating violence initiatives.

Kennedy’s Overhaul Hits Public Health Hard

The layoffs are part of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s sweeping plan to cut 10,000 jobs across HHS, including 2,400 at the CDC. Kennedy, a longtime vaccine skeptic, says the firings will save taxpayers $1.8 billion annually and help reduce what he calls “bureaucratic sprawl.”

But critics argue the cuts threaten critical health services, including infectious disease response, environmental hazard research, and equal employment protections. Many of those laid off had already been on paid administrative leave while lawsuits challenged the plan.

Trauma, Harassment, and Mistrust

The firings follow not only the deadly Atlanta shooting, but also a surge in harassment against health workers. Earlier this week, 750 current and former HHS employees signed a letter accusing Kennedy of spreading vaccine misinformation and fueling mistrust in public health.

Investigators revealed the CDC gunman — who died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound — blamed a COVID-19 vaccine for his depression and suicidal thoughts, fueling fears that anti-vaccine rhetoric is escalating threats against health officials.

A Public Health System in Crisis

From violence prevention to disease surveillance, the CDC’s core functions are now destabilized. Union leaders say the mass firings undermine recovery efforts, erode trust, and jeopardize both national and international public health initiatives.

Stay with JRL CHARTS – Your Trusted News Source as we continue tracking the fallout from the CDC massacre and mass firings shaking the foundation of America’s health and LGBT medical services.

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