Washington, Sep 3
Over 1000 current and former employees of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have called for the resignation of Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr after removal of the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Susan Monarez and other actions which they said are "compromising the health of the nation."
In a letter sent to Kennedy and members of Congress on Wednesday, a group of former and current employees urged US President and US Congress to appoint a new Secretary of Health and Human Services, one whose qualifications and experience ensure that health policy is informed by independent and unbiased peer-reviewed science.
The letter stated, "We believe health policy should be based in strong, evidence-based principles rather than partisan politics. But under Secretary Kennedy’s leadership, HHS policies are placing the health of all Americans at risk, regardless of their politics."
The HHS employees stated that they signed the letter in their personal capacities and some opted to remain anonymous "out of well-founded fear of retaliation and threats to personal safety."