Former U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams blasted Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for his “delayed and tepid response” to the fatal shooting that occurred at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta on Friday.
In an opinion piece published by Stat on Saturday, Adams wrote it was “clear” that the shooting was a “a dire reflection of ever-escalating threats public health workers face in a climate increasingly shaped by misinformation, politicization, and inflammatory rhetoric.”
Last Friday afternoon, a shooter whom authorities have identified as 30-year-old Patrick Joseph White shot at the Atlanta headquarters of the CDC, killing DeKalb County police officer David Rose. White’s father reportedly told police his son had been fixated on the COVID-19 vaccine.
In his op-ed, Adams, who served in the first Trump administration, lambasted Kennedy for waiting 18 hours before issuing a statement, writing that he himself heard from staffers at the CDC within that time frame who felt “already demoralized.”
“Leadership in moments of crisis is critical. Kennedy’s delayed and tepid response, coupled with his own record of inflammatory claims, has only deepened the wounds and amplified a dangerous sense of betrayal among America’s frontline public health workers,” Adams wrote.
He also noted other recent violent incidents, including a shooting at a Pennsylvania hospital and the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
“What ties these events together is not just the violence — but the context that enables it,” wrote Adams. “Repeated rhetoric from influential voices, including Kennedy and his supporters, has portrayed health professionals as corrupt, untrustworthy, or outright malicious. They’ve been labeled ‘grifters,’ ‘enemies of the people,’ and worse.”
He called on federal leadership to condemn rhetoric that vilifies public health professionals, to stop scapegoating public frustration onto health professionals, protect health care workers and to fund actionable solutions instead of just messaging.
Appearing on CBS News’s “Face the Nation,” Adams continued his criticism of Kennedy, noting the secretary’s past remarks villainizing the CDC.
“He said no one should be harmed while working to protect the public. There’s an out there,” said Adams. “If you don’t believe that people are working to protect the public, then that means it’s okay to commit violence, at least in some people’s eyes.”
Writing on social media following the shooting, Kennedy said, “We know how shaken our public health colleagues feel today. No one should face violence while working to protect the health of others. We are actively supporting CDC staff on the ground and across the agency. Public health workers show up every day with purpose — even in moments of grief and uncertainty.”
“Secretary Kennedy has unequivocally condemned the horrific attack and remains fully committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of CDC employees,” HHS Communications Director Andrew Nixon said in a statement Monday. “He extends his deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Officer David Rose, who was tragically killed. Officer Rose’s sacrifice to protect the CDC on its darkest day will never be forgotten.
“This is a time to stand in solidarity with our public health workforce, not a moment for the media to exploit a tragedy for political gain,” Nixon added.
