Gunman unleashes 180 bullets, shattering 150 windows in CDC assault
The Atlanta headquarters of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was the scene of a harrowing incident on a Friday, when a gunman opened fire, killing a police officer and causing extensive damage. The attack, which saw the shooter fire over 500 shots, shattering more than 150 windows across six buildings, has left CDC employees with a range of concerns about their safety and security.
Dr. Jerome Adams, the U.S. surgeon general during President Donald Trump's first administration, has emphasised the importance of health leaders being mindful of the weight of their words, as claims about vaccine safety and efficacy can have unintended consequences. The shooting at the CDC Atlanta headquarters, which some have linked to vaccine misinformation, has underscored this message.
The attack, which took place on August 8, 2025, saw the shooter stopped by CDC security guards before driving to a nearby pharmacy and opening fire. While no CDC employees were physically injured, they were forced to shelter in place for hours during the active shooting. The emotional impact on CDC employees was significant, with the loss of the police officer and the active threat causing fear and uncertainty.
CDC staff were initially told to work remotely while the agency conducted a thorough security assessment before returning to the office. The incident exposed vulnerabilities despite "blast-resistant" windows, as the extensive damage and prolonged lockdown raised questions about overall security preparedness and response mechanisms on the Roybal Campus.
Unionized CDC employees are calling for more heavily armed guards, bulletproof glass, a better alert system, and more extensive evacuation planning for disabled employees and other vulnerable staff. They are also concerned about the adequacy of current physical security infrastructure and protocols, given the scale of damage caused. They worry about readiness and procedures for active shooter threats, underscored by hours-long shelter-in-place orders.
Emotional and psychological safety is another concern, with CDC employees fearing the long-term impact of targeted attacks linked to vaccine misinformation. Retired CDC official Stephan Monroe expressed concern about the impact the attack would have on young scientists' willingness to work for the government. Tim Young, a CDC employee who retired in April, stated that years of false rhetoric about vaccines and public health was bound to "take a toll on people's mental health," and "leads to violence."
In response, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has emphasised that additional safety and security measures are being implemented before CDC personnel return to the campus. U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. toured the CDC campus on Monday, and AP reporters Alanna Durkin Richer and Charlotte Kramon contributed to this report.
CDC employees are now taking steps to become less visible, including not wearing their public health service uniform to work. CDC Building 21, which houses the CDC Director's office, was hit by the largest number of bullets in the attack. The shooter, identified as Patrick Joseph White, later died, but the cause of death is unclear.
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
[1] Richer, A. D., & Kramon, C. (2025, August 10). CDC employees fear for safety after Atlanta shooting. Associated Press. Retrieved from https://apnews.com/article/cdc-atlanta-shooting-health-science-721e2c97758f548c787b17d742838420
[2] Richer, A. D., & Kramon, C. (2025, August 11). CDC employees told to work from home this week. Associated Press. Retrieved from https://apnews.com/article/cdc-atlanta-shooting-health-science-721e2c97758f548c787b17d742838420
[3] Monroe, S. (2025, August 12). Vaccine misinformation leads to violence, says retired CDC official. Associated Press. Retrieved from https://apnews.com/article/vaccine-misinformation-cdc-atlanta-shooting-health-science-721e2c97758f548c787b17d742838420
[4] HHS (2025, August 13). HHS implements additional safety and security measures at CDC Atlanta campus. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved from https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2025/08/13/hhs-implements-additional-safety-and-security-measures-at-cdc-atlanta-campus.html
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