Opinion: CDC Under Attack—A Year After Shooting, Agency Faces Ongoing Threats

CDC official Daniel Jernigan reflects on the 2024 shooting at the agency's Atlanta headquarters, highlighting the irony that office workers faced greater immediate danger than field epidemiologists investigating deadly hemorrhagic fevers. One year later, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continues to face attacks—both physical and political—that threaten its critical mission in public health. These incidents underscore the dangers faced by health professionals dedicated to disease surveillance, outbreak response, and protecting communities from infectious disease threats. The attacks raise concerns about the safety and morale of the workforce responsible for safeguarding public health during health emergencies.