She used an expletive to describe everything. To put it briefly, the former CDC worker feels singled out once more.
Tighe, who lost her position in CDC communications this year, expressed her frustration, annoyance, and anger. In addition to being targeted and fired, I have also been vilified. They’re shooting at my child’s daycare now.
It is unreal and dystopian, and I’m not sure how to make Americans who believe this is acceptable realize that this isn’t how things ought to be. It should be possible for people to serve the public, care about their communities and public health, act morally, and avoid being vilified.
People interviewed by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Saturday morning, like Tighe, conveyed their appreciation for law enforcement and their profound sadness at the death of an officer who was shot while attempting to halt the shooting.
However, many also conveyed their sorrow and rage at the federal government’s inaction in managing the CDC, as well as their belief that the shooting was a direct result of the confusion and false information the Trump administration had sowed.
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s unconventional views on science and vaccines have hurt the agency, which has been under attack for months due to cuts by President Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency, hundreds of layoffs, and poor communication.
Then there was a shooting.
Workers were informed on Friday that they would be working remotely while security was evaluated. However, they were not granted any leave. All inquiries regarding the shooting were directed to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation by HHS officials, including those from the CDC.
Early on Saturday, Dr. John Brooks, the former chief medical officer for the CDC’s Division of HIV Prevention and for the agency’s emergency responses to COVID-19 and mpox, stated that CDC employees have unnecessarily suffered from severe emotional trauma since the current administration’s inauguration.
Why is there no statement from the White House? Brooks inquired. Is this how much they despise the CDC? Are they just unable to take any action to assist government employees, especially those who seek to lessen this specific form of violence against Americans?
It was obvious that a statement ought to be released right away. And yet, at this moment, not even prayers or thoughts.
By the time CDC staff retired for the night, RFK Jr. had just reposted a social media statement from CDC Director Susan Monarez, while Georgia and local politicians poured out their support.
White House officials remained silent.
Kennedy shared pictures of himself holding a massive King salmon while fishing with Alaskan tribe elders on his personal social media account on Saturday. After the complaints began to come in later that morning, a message of support for CDC staff was posted on his official account, and a longer one was sent to them personally via email.
The message claims that we are aware of how extremely unnerving this is, especially for people who work in Atlanta. We are all affected differently by the shock and uncertainty that follow such events, and they are genuine. You are not alone, and we want everyone to know that. To make sure there is assistance on the ground, leadership works closely with CDC teams.
Tighe cited claims that Russell Vought, the head of Trump’s Office of Management and Budget, stated that the administration intended to traumatize government employees.
She said that they were to blame for this. It is not unexpected that someone would feel comfortable attacking the CDC at all, given the amount of animosity they have been planting against the agency and its personnel.
