CDC staff remain traumatized one year after Atlanta campus shooting

A gunman entered the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Atlanta campus in August 2022, firing more than 500 rounds and killing DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose before taking his own life. The attack left the agency’s employees shaken and raised concerns about safety on federal health facilities.

One year later, interviews with seven current and former CDC workers reveal that many still feel unsafe and targeted. Staff say they receive little support from senior officials, noting the absence of a statement from former President Donald Trump and expressing frustration toward other federal leaders. The agency is preparing to welcome its new director, Dr. Erica Schwartz, confirmed by the Senate, and recently hosted a visit from U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., but the lingering trauma remains a daily reality for many employees.