The aftermath of the recent attack on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Roybal campus in Atlanta has left the staff dealing with both emotional trauma and job insecurity. As recently reported by FOX 5 Atlanta, Dr. Susan Monarez, the new CDC Director, visited the damaged campus and confirmed that around 600 employees are facing layoffs, with about 100 of those in prevention-related roles. Monarez, having been recently appointed, is now addressing the fallout from both a mass shooting and significant job cuts at the agency.
On August 8, a gunman, identified as 30-year-old Patrick Joseph White by authorities, targeted the CDC campus, leading to the tragic death of a DeKalb County police officer and rattling the CDC workforce. No CDC employees were physically injured, but the psychological impact is apparent. “There’s still a lot of anxiety here,” Monarez told FOX 5 Atlanta, signaling her commitment to new security measures and staff support.
During Dr. Monarez’s walkthrough of the damaged buildings, she described the recent violence as “an attack on public health in a way that we’ve never seen here before.” The remarks, obtained by Rocket City Now, highlighted the devastating conditions staff were confronted with, including massive cracks in the windows and scattered shards across the floors. The violent event prompted a full after-action review by the CDC, centering on improving security and communication systems…