CDC Mandates Full Office Return By Sept. 15, Weeks After Atlanta Headquarters Shooting

"The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has ordered all staff to return to offices by Sept. 15, marking the end of remote work protocols implemented after a deadly shooting at its Atlanta headquarters five weeks ago. Chief Operating Officer Lynda Chapman announced the mandate in a Thursday email, stating, "Your safety remains our top priority. We are taking necessary steps to restore our workplace and will return to regular on-site operations no later than Monday, September 15," according to a report by NBC News. The directive affects all CDC employees, with alternative workspace arrangements for those whose offices sustained damage during the Aug. 8 attack. Chapman reported "significant progress" on repairs at the CDC Roybal Campus."

"Patrick Joseph White fired 200 rounds at CDC employees on Aug. 8, killing police officer David Rose before dying by suicide. Georgia Bureau of Investigation officials confirmed White targeted the agency due to anti-COVID-19 vaccine beliefs. Search warrants revealed written documents expressing White's discontent with COVID-19 vaccines. A neighbor reported White blamed vaccines for his depression and suicidal thoughts."

"The announcement comes amid broader turmoil at the CDC. President Donald Trump fired agency director Susan Monarez earlier this week, while four other top officials resigned, citing agency politicization and threats to public health. Before her dismissal, Monarez blamed misinformation for the shooting in an Aug. 12 staff email, stating "the dangers of misinformation and its promulgation have now led to deadly consequences.""

The CDC ordered all staff to return to offices by Sept. 15, ending remote work instituted after the Aug. 8 shooting at the Atlanta headquarters. Chief Operating Officer Lynda Chapman announced the mandate in an email, emphasized employee safety, and noted significant repair progress at the Roybal Campus with alternative workspaces for damaged offices. Patrick Joseph White fired 200 rounds, killed police officer David Rose, and died by suicide; investigators found written anti-COVID-19 vaccine materials and a neighbor said White blamed vaccines for depression. Leadership turmoil followed, including the firing of director Susan Monarez and multiple resignations over politicization and public health concerns.

Read at Benzinga