Protect Public Health Employees from Continued Threats, Harassment, and Targeting

Recent signers:
Elaina Jones and 19 others have signed recently.

The Issue

Executive Summary

Federal public health employees, particularly those at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), are facing escalating threats, harassment, and targeted hostility. On August 8, 2025, the CDC was attacked by an extremist that killed a police officer and damaged its Atlanta campus, in what leadership called a targeted attack. These attacks are fueled by months of defamatory campaigns, false health information, and the circulation of hostile “watch lists” all aimed at discrediting public health servants. Such actions endanger individual employees and their families, undermine the integrity of public health institutions, and may violate federal laws protecting civil service employees.  

Through this petition, concerned citizens call on Congress, CDC and HHS leadership, state officials, and other responsible authorities to swiftly denounce these actions, investigate their origins, and take all necessary steps to protect federal public health professionals from further harm.

Please Sign

Federal employees at CDC and HHS dedicate their lives to protecting the health and well-being of all Americans. They should not be targeted, harassed, or endangered for doing their jobs. Join us in defending public servants, restoring accountability, and protecting the integrity of our institutions.

I. Request to Congress and Leadership

To restore safety, integrity, and accountability across federal public health agencies, we urge the following:

  1. Publicly Denounce Threats, Intimidation, and Violence: CDC, HHS, the Administration, and Congressional and State leadership, particularly in Georgia, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia, where many federal employees reside, should publicly condemn threats, harassment, and violence against federal public health employees and their workplaces. This should include condemning false and defamatory campaigns and lists, and then coordinating to ensure safety, accountability, and legal protection for all affected staff.
  2. Strengthen Protections for Federal Employees: Update physical security measures and cybersecurity protocols to reflect the severity of current-day threats facing federal employees and institutions. Reinforce facilities to prevent violence, unauthorized access, and digital exposure that can escalate into offline harm. Improve internal threat reporting and response pathways to ensure timely, coordinated intervention and protection. Uphold nonpartisan civil service protections by prohibiting and reversing any negative employment actions linked to external campaigns or retaliatory targeting.
  3. Launch a Formal Investigation and Remove Watch Lists: Call for an independent review to assess whether any actions or affiliations of HHS leadership, including those involving the HHS Acting Chief of Staff and connections to external organizations such as the American Accountability Foundation (AAF), may be relevant to the creation, circulation, or amplification of the “DEI Watch Lists.” This review should include an audit of data practices to determine how individual private, personal, or protected information was obtained and shared. Additionally, we urge authorities to remove the “Watch Lists” from public circulation to prevent further harm to federal employees.
  4. Reprimand Individuals Who Mischaracterize Lawful Public Health Work: Hold accountable any federal officials or their appointees who have misrepresented science-based public health efforts, contributed to hostile narratives, or endangered staff through public statements or internal actions. Mischaracterizing lawful public health work as ideological or partisan is not only unethical, it may violate federal protections for civil servants and contribute to a climate of intimidation and violence.

II. Background of Increasing Targeting of Public Health Servants 

Recent headlines and incidents illustrate the escalating actions:

III. Equal Protection Is Not Optional

The U.S. Government has recognized the need to protect employees from political and personal retaliation. Current legislative proposals and administration policy aims to protect personnel such as ICE Officers and DOGE Agents from public targeting and threatening websites due to the risks it poses to their personal safety and organizational missions.

Federal employees at HHS, CDC, and other civilian agencies deserve equal protection under the law. A government that shields law enforcement and certain federal departments from targeting must not ignore when scientists, health analysts, and other public servants are harassed, placed on “watch lists”, threatened, or even shot at without recourse. Equal protection is not optional; it is a constitutional obligation.

Sources:

IV. Nature of the Threats and Harassment

In February 2025, The American Accountability Foundation (AAF), an organization co-founded by HHS’s current Chief of Staff, published public “Watch Lists” targeting over 100 federal employees at HHS, CDC, and other agencies, including scientists, analysts, and public health professionals hired through lawful, merit-based processes. According to their website, they “deploy aggressive research…while heavily scrutinizing bureaucrats”. The employees are exposed to hostility based on:

  • Protected characteristics (e.g., race, gender, national origin, disability status)
  • Perceived or misattributed beliefs
  • Information improperly obtained from internal systems and private social media

The watch lists feature extreme and inaccurate portrayals. In the months following publication, affected employees have reported:

  • Threats to their families at personal homes and in public; some forced to relocate
  • Harassing phone calls and verbal assaults from strangers
  • Property and vehicle damage and hostile work environments
  • A shooting at a CDC facility on August 8, 2025, where several listed employees work

Employees describe the climate as “psychological warfare,” with escalating threat campaigns resulting in reputational harm, direct harassment, and physical danger. These efforts reflect a broader attempt to intimidate and purge public health professionals, often based on race, perceived ideology, or their commitment to ensuring that all Americans receive the health care they need. 

On August 7, 2025, HHS Communications Director stated, “We will not apologize for restoring a culture,” in reference to the watchlists, without condemning the targeting of federal employees. (Source: Campaign to purge “subversive” federal workers)

V. False Information and Targeting Is Fueling Violence Against Public Health Employees 

CDC and other HHS professionals continue to be targeted for their work to protect all Americans, including vaccine-related efforts and broader health programs. These professionals are being deliberately targeted and portrayed as extreme or harmful, despite their lawful, science-based roles.

Current HHS leadership has vowed to “clean up the cesspool of corruption at CDC and force the public health agencies to come clean about Covid vaccines,” and a recent HHS-appointee to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has made concerning remarks about scientists before and after the CDC attack.

In addition, the AAF “Watch Lists” include inflammatory and threatening claims about vaccination and other life-saving public health work such as:

  • CDC individuals “should have no part of the federal health community” due to their work supporting vaccination for disease prevention
  • Statements like: the CDC researchers “shouldn’t be using tax dollars figuring out how to get more kids jabbed,” and that CDC researchers “aggressively pushed” vaccination
  • Allegations that working on vaccine uptake in certain communities reflects “radical ideology” 

These narratives have fueled the false idea that federal employees or their work is dangerous. The developments have also coincided with broader disruptions across CDC and HHS, including the firing of vaccine advisory leaders, the halting of vaccine science initiatives, and proposed reductions in force (RIFs) affecting CDC staff. A large portion of CDC employees, all who supported critical public health work in states across the country, have been placed on administrative leave, further straining institutional capacity to keep Americans healthy. 

VI. Relevant Laws and Protections

The ongoing effects of recent narratives about and targeting of federal public health employees raise concerns about potential conflicts with established protections for civil servants, including:

Law / Provision

  • 29 U.S.C. § 668 – Federal agencies are required to provide safe and healthful working conditions, including protections against workplace hazards (in a manner consistent with (29 U.S.C. § 655)
  • 18 U.S.C. § 115 – Threats Against Federal Officials
  • Cyberstalking Law (18 U.S.C. § 2261A) – Criminalizes online harassment and intimidation. Criminalizes threats and cyberstalking across state lines.
  • 5 U.S.C. § 2302(b)(1), (b)(8)–(b)(10) – Prohibits discrimination, retaliation, coercion, and violations of merit system principles.
  • Hatch Act (5 U.S.C. §§ 7321–7326) – Prohibits political coercion or influence in federal employment.
  • Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. § 552a) – Protects federal employee records from unauthorized access or disclosure.
  • Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (18 U.S.C. § 1030) – Criminalizes unauthorized access to computer systems.
  • Interstate Threats Law (18 U.S.C. § 875(c)) – Prohibits threats made across state lines.
  • Title VII of the Civil Rights Act (42 U.S.C. § 2000e-2) – Prohibits discrimination and harassment based on race, sex, religion, or national origin.
  • Rehabilitation Act of 1973 – Prohibits disability discrimination in federal agencies.
  • Equal Protection (5th Amendment) – Requires the federal government to treat individuals equally under the law.
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Concerned Civil ServantsPetition Starter
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Recent signers:
Elaina Jones and 19 others have signed recently.

The Issue

Executive Summary

Federal public health employees, particularly those at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), are facing escalating threats, harassment, and targeted hostility. On August 8, 2025, the CDC was attacked by an extremist that killed a police officer and damaged its Atlanta campus, in what leadership called a targeted attack. These attacks are fueled by months of defamatory campaigns, false health information, and the circulation of hostile “watch lists” all aimed at discrediting public health servants. Such actions endanger individual employees and their families, undermine the integrity of public health institutions, and may violate federal laws protecting civil service employees.  

Through this petition, concerned citizens call on Congress, CDC and HHS leadership, state officials, and other responsible authorities to swiftly denounce these actions, investigate their origins, and take all necessary steps to protect federal public health professionals from further harm.

Please Sign

Federal employees at CDC and HHS dedicate their lives to protecting the health and well-being of all Americans. They should not be targeted, harassed, or endangered for doing their jobs. Join us in defending public servants, restoring accountability, and protecting the integrity of our institutions.

I. Request to Congress and Leadership

To restore safety, integrity, and accountability across federal public health agencies, we urge the following:

  1. Publicly Denounce Threats, Intimidation, and Violence: CDC, HHS, the Administration, and Congressional and State leadership, particularly in Georgia, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia, where many federal employees reside, should publicly condemn threats, harassment, and violence against federal public health employees and their workplaces. This should include condemning false and defamatory campaigns and lists, and then coordinating to ensure safety, accountability, and legal protection for all affected staff.
  2. Strengthen Protections for Federal Employees: Update physical security measures and cybersecurity protocols to reflect the severity of current-day threats facing federal employees and institutions. Reinforce facilities to prevent violence, unauthorized access, and digital exposure that can escalate into offline harm. Improve internal threat reporting and response pathways to ensure timely, coordinated intervention and protection. Uphold nonpartisan civil service protections by prohibiting and reversing any negative employment actions linked to external campaigns or retaliatory targeting.
  3. Launch a Formal Investigation and Remove Watch Lists: Call for an independent review to assess whether any actions or affiliations of HHS leadership, including those involving the HHS Acting Chief of Staff and connections to external organizations such as the American Accountability Foundation (AAF), may be relevant to the creation, circulation, or amplification of the “DEI Watch Lists.” This review should include an audit of data practices to determine how individual private, personal, or protected information was obtained and shared. Additionally, we urge authorities to remove the “Watch Lists” from public circulation to prevent further harm to federal employees.
  4. Reprimand Individuals Who Mischaracterize Lawful Public Health Work: Hold accountable any federal officials or their appointees who have misrepresented science-based public health efforts, contributed to hostile narratives, or endangered staff through public statements or internal actions. Mischaracterizing lawful public health work as ideological or partisan is not only unethical, it may violate federal protections for civil servants and contribute to a climate of intimidation and violence.

II. Background of Increasing Targeting of Public Health Servants 

Recent headlines and incidents illustrate the escalating actions:

III. Equal Protection Is Not Optional

The U.S. Government has recognized the need to protect employees from political and personal retaliation. Current legislative proposals and administration policy aims to protect personnel such as ICE Officers and DOGE Agents from public targeting and threatening websites due to the risks it poses to their personal safety and organizational missions.

Federal employees at HHS, CDC, and other civilian agencies deserve equal protection under the law. A government that shields law enforcement and certain federal departments from targeting must not ignore when scientists, health analysts, and other public servants are harassed, placed on “watch lists”, threatened, or even shot at without recourse. Equal protection is not optional; it is a constitutional obligation.

Sources:

IV. Nature of the Threats and Harassment

In February 2025, The American Accountability Foundation (AAF), an organization co-founded by HHS’s current Chief of Staff, published public “Watch Lists” targeting over 100 federal employees at HHS, CDC, and other agencies, including scientists, analysts, and public health professionals hired through lawful, merit-based processes. According to their website, they “deploy aggressive research…while heavily scrutinizing bureaucrats”. The employees are exposed to hostility based on:

  • Protected characteristics (e.g., race, gender, national origin, disability status)
  • Perceived or misattributed beliefs
  • Information improperly obtained from internal systems and private social media

The watch lists feature extreme and inaccurate portrayals. In the months following publication, affected employees have reported:

  • Threats to their families at personal homes and in public; some forced to relocate
  • Harassing phone calls and verbal assaults from strangers
  • Property and vehicle damage and hostile work environments
  • A shooting at a CDC facility on August 8, 2025, where several listed employees work

Employees describe the climate as “psychological warfare,” with escalating threat campaigns resulting in reputational harm, direct harassment, and physical danger. These efforts reflect a broader attempt to intimidate and purge public health professionals, often based on race, perceived ideology, or their commitment to ensuring that all Americans receive the health care they need. 

On August 7, 2025, HHS Communications Director stated, “We will not apologize for restoring a culture,” in reference to the watchlists, without condemning the targeting of federal employees. (Source: Campaign to purge “subversive” federal workers)

V. False Information and Targeting Is Fueling Violence Against Public Health Employees 

CDC and other HHS professionals continue to be targeted for their work to protect all Americans, including vaccine-related efforts and broader health programs. These professionals are being deliberately targeted and portrayed as extreme or harmful, despite their lawful, science-based roles.

Current HHS leadership has vowed to “clean up the cesspool of corruption at CDC and force the public health agencies to come clean about Covid vaccines,” and a recent HHS-appointee to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has made concerning remarks about scientists before and after the CDC attack.

In addition, the AAF “Watch Lists” include inflammatory and threatening claims about vaccination and other life-saving public health work such as:

  • CDC individuals “should have no part of the federal health community” due to their work supporting vaccination for disease prevention
  • Statements like: the CDC researchers “shouldn’t be using tax dollars figuring out how to get more kids jabbed,” and that CDC researchers “aggressively pushed” vaccination
  • Allegations that working on vaccine uptake in certain communities reflects “radical ideology” 

These narratives have fueled the false idea that federal employees or their work is dangerous. The developments have also coincided with broader disruptions across CDC and HHS, including the firing of vaccine advisory leaders, the halting of vaccine science initiatives, and proposed reductions in force (RIFs) affecting CDC staff. A large portion of CDC employees, all who supported critical public health work in states across the country, have been placed on administrative leave, further straining institutional capacity to keep Americans healthy. 

VI. Relevant Laws and Protections

The ongoing effects of recent narratives about and targeting of federal public health employees raise concerns about potential conflicts with established protections for civil servants, including:

Law / Provision

  • 29 U.S.C. § 668 – Federal agencies are required to provide safe and healthful working conditions, including protections against workplace hazards (in a manner consistent with (29 U.S.C. § 655)
  • 18 U.S.C. § 115 – Threats Against Federal Officials
  • Cyberstalking Law (18 U.S.C. § 2261A) – Criminalizes online harassment and intimidation. Criminalizes threats and cyberstalking across state lines.
  • 5 U.S.C. § 2302(b)(1), (b)(8)–(b)(10) – Prohibits discrimination, retaliation, coercion, and violations of merit system principles.
  • Hatch Act (5 U.S.C. §§ 7321–7326) – Prohibits political coercion or influence in federal employment.
  • Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. § 552a) – Protects federal employee records from unauthorized access or disclosure.
  • Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (18 U.S.C. § 1030) – Criminalizes unauthorized access to computer systems.
  • Interstate Threats Law (18 U.S.C. § 875(c)) – Prohibits threats made across state lines.
  • Title VII of the Civil Rights Act (42 U.S.C. § 2000e-2) – Prohibits discrimination and harassment based on race, sex, religion, or national origin.
  • Rehabilitation Act of 1973 – Prohibits disability discrimination in federal agencies.
  • Equal Protection (5th Amendment) – Requires the federal government to treat individuals equally under the law.
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Petition created on August 13, 2025