CDC Staff Stage Mass Walkout in Protest of Leadership Shake-Up

ATLANTA, Aug. 28, 2025 - Dozens of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention employees staged a coordinated walkout today outside the agency’s Atlanta headquarters, expressing solidarity with senior officials who resigned this week in protest of the abrupt ouster of CDC Director Susan Monarez and new policies enacted under Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Staff gathered just after 10 a.m. to participate in a “clap-out” demonstration, marching with signs and applauding Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, Dr. Debra Houry and Dr. Daniel Jernigan as they were escorted from their offices following their resignations on Wednesday night. The departed leaders cited political interference in scientific work-particularly changes to COVID-19 vaccine guidelines-and warned that public trust in the CDC is at risk.

“This walkout shows the depth of concern within our ranks,” said a CDC employee who asked to remain anonymous. “Many of us feel compelled to stand with the scientists who refuse to compromise on evidence-based public health.”

The protest follows the White House’s decision on Wednesday to terminate Monarez less than a month after her Senate confirmation. Her removal triggered the resignation of four senior career officials and has drawn bipartisan calls for congressional oversight of HHS’s handling of the CDC.

In a sharply worded statement outside the headquarters, Daskalakis emphasized, “Science must guide our decisions, not ideology. Today, we stand up for the integrity of public health.” Houry added, “We need Congress to intervene before more experts feel forced out.”

The unfolding turmoil has heightened tensions ahead of a key Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices meeting next month, where revised vaccination recommendations are expected. Lawmakers from both parties have demanded explanations for Monarez’s firing and warned that continued staff departures could hamper the nation’s readiness for emerging health threats.