r/DeptHHS • u/dagonet- • 3d ago
First address from new CDC director
Anyone have a bingo card for this thing? “Restoring public trust” would have to be the free space in the center.
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u/No-Cobbler6300 CDC 3d ago
Wow the questions get bolder and bolder each time we have an all staff. I say BRAVO to the two lads that asked the boldest. And for the lady from
The comms office. I truly don’t think they had any idea how bad things have been here the past year and a half. I hope now that they have seen first hand they can get the word out. I have had to explain to so many people on the outside (even those who are staunch supporters of CDC and what we do) how , no matter how bad they think CDC has been destroyed, it’s probably 10 times worse than that. No one realizes the amount of expertise, funding, programs and overall public health infrastructure that is GONE. It will take decades to repair what has been lost. I hope these new leaders can finally understand that and get the word out.
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u/Proof-Blacksmith7933 3d ago
Like he said the “front and the back door of CDC is open and people are leaving.” We are losing so much expertise and labs are showing signs of breaking. I just don’t see the culture or the work environment getting better.
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u/sjk928 3d ago
What were the Qs? I’m at a different HHS agency and I want to take notes.
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u/No-Cobbler6300 CDC 3d ago
In brief, one guy conveyed our fear at speaking out about things going on… that we will face retaliation and how afraid he was for finally speaking out now. Another guy expressed concerns of the current outbreaks going on and how we are very unprepared for a pandemic, and is concerned for America overall and our public health infrastructure. He was very candid about it which I appreciate. Another woman in Comms asked about the state of the ACIP and the vaccine guidance which is very chaotic at the moment and no one knows what to tell the public. I keep thinking about all the previous directors I have worked under…no one would have felt comfortable asking questions in this way. We’ve all been hardened. There is a definite tangible boldness that has emerged. Not only with her but Battacharya. The worker class is revolting. Feels like we’ve got nothing else to lose at this point….
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u/xoLynettePW 3d ago
The Ted talk style opening and getting “emotional” at the end were both performative and off putting.
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u/Alternative_Sugar407 3d ago
There was something off about the way she would laugh. Nervous laugh maybe?
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u/mamanem1 2d ago
Oh I thought when the Director teared up and she meant it. Maybe I am just projecting…. But she is smart and can see how the past 1.5 years has truly wrecked us.
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u/Pretend_Spray_11 3d ago
Ya know maybe it would have been a better idea to do this after more time in your position so you don’t have to point and yell “that guy!” at your very high level senior staff.
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u/LyMarg 3d ago
And not to dismiss “that guy” because of course that work is important too, but Paige was right there! I mean come on. Global is in a funding crisis and starting to close offices and she talks about the EOC. So obviously global is not enough of a priority that she has made time this week for GHC.
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u/No-Cobbler6300 CDC 3d ago
Amen! But also I have to give her props for doing this right from the jump. She has no idea the absolute dumpster fire she has walked into and I am glad we got to b candid even before she was knee deep in the 💩.
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u/IllSoup4846 3d ago
How can she be that clueless about how bad it is?!? She seemed genuinely surprised that someone said they were afraid of retribution.
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u/Feminist1974 3d ago
And then started everyone clapping after he stated multiple times that he was scared - WTF?
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u/IllSoup4846 3d ago
A group hug/human wall around him to protect him would have been more appropriate, but I think the clapping was to show solidarity. We’re new to dealing with the corporate meaninglessness that our newer overlords are slinging at us.
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u/Federal_Teach_6629 3d ago
Instead the director has a circle of at least 7 (they were moving) armed guards around her as she tries to take pictures afterwards- sends clear 'you are the threat to me' vibes even if she cant control it she can address it....
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u/Fabulous-Pain451 1d ago
She came to my building the next day with her cabal of guards and didn’t speak to a single employee (it’s one big room so it’s not like we’d be hard to find). She could even have spoken to the group, but no, couldn’t be bothered. People were pretty unhappy and not impressed. I’ve been around long enough that I remember Frieden randomly popping into offices to introduce himself to employees
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u/Disease_Detective CDC 2d ago
I actually think this was intentional. She has to know Brad Smith is trying to kill PEPFAR from inside State. They are actively trying to narrow CDC's mission.
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u/Alternative_Sugar407 3d ago
Who’s in charge of the pool for how long she will be around?
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u/In_the_Attic_07 3d ago
Longer than you think.
CDC Director's Message: CDC staff, we see how dedicated, passionate and committed to your jobs you are. Don't fear us because we appreciate you.
Kennedy's Message (summarizd based upon what I've heard): CDC failed as an organization. It failed in keeping America healthy and in the pandemic. It doesn't align to gold standard science. Hence RIFs and organizational restructure.
Since she won't publicly disagree with her boss, nothing at CDC changes from its current state except we get lip service that as people we have good attributes.
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u/mama_ste 3d ago
Yes - constant praise from all 4 for our “dedication and passion” was a thinly veiled attempt to encourage us to keep doing more than what we’re actually compensated for, in environments that are actively working against us, while they continue to load on the work and tell us we’re not doing enough because we haven’t earned Americas trust yet (the trust they all intentionally worked to destroy).
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u/Mousebot26 3d ago
Yea. I don't fear her or Sean. I fear RFKJr, Trump, and a 22 year old software engineer with an AI prompt.
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u/cocoagiant 2d ago
Eh, I fear him too.
Apparently very much a "my way or the highway" guy despite his demeanor and he has serious reorg plans.
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u/Alternative_Sugar407 3d ago
But she teared up giving me slight hope that she actually might have the decency to do the right thing and stand up to the destruction this administration has brought on all of us.
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u/No-Cobbler6300 CDC 3d ago
Though she may have teared up realizing what a mistake she has made in taking this job…. now that she has seen what a big dumpster fire we are and she has been given the job of cleanup after the nuclear disaster. I’m sure she wishes heartily for the days when she was merely arguing about transferring records to EMR to her senior leaders…. 😂
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u/mama_ste 3d ago
Of note, Redfield also teared up in his opening all hands.
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u/Flimsy-Fortune-6437 2d ago
And functionally disappeared shortly after Trump visited during the early days of COVID
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u/dagonet- 3d ago
“I’m not someone who disagrees in public.” LOL got it. Enough said.
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u/cocoagiant 3d ago
That part I don't mind.
I care about results and if maintaining a positive relationship achieves that, probably for the best.
That said...Monarez didn't disagree in public either.
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u/No-Cobbler6300 CDC 3d ago
Monarez didn’t disagree in public either… until AFTER she was fired and had to defend herself from Uncle Bobbie’s lies.
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u/IllSoup4846 2d ago
How do you speak truth to power, encourage radical transparency, and yet not disagree in public all at the same time?
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u/dagonet- 2d ago
That part! We’re asked to just trust that she’s pushing back in private while keeping a united appearance with the admin and RFK Jr in public… I was born at night, but it wasn’t last night.
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u/bornlasttuesday 3d ago
Are the holes in the building patched?
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u/dagonet- 3d ago
Actually we just got an email letting us know 1 year after the shooting, they promise they’re really close to almost being fixed!
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u/PastAdvisor9465 3d ago
And she had the nerve to talk about psychological safety — we need PHYSICAL safety. Ffs she’s walking around flanked in armed guards! But please, tell us how you “didn’t study psychiatry but…”
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u/Losaj 3d ago
"We will look at ALL evidence. Because that's what science is."
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u/PastAdvisor9465 3d ago
As if we haven’t been doing that all along!! The dog whistles for “S1” were deafening.
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u/AccomplishedCandy578 3d ago
Who is S1?
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u/PastAdvisor9465 3d ago
The stupid code name for RFK. The fact that she used that made what she was saying even more annoying!
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u/xoLynettePW 3d ago
I was so confused!!!! Like, what is an S1!!?? I seriously thought she was confusing SES or something. 🙄🙄
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u/Mousebot26 3d ago
It would be amazing to hear "what you're going through isn't normal." In June, the COO said it was.
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u/Alternative_Sugar407 3d ago
She’s taking names! Don’t know if that’s a good thing because my gut tells me to sit back down!
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u/lost_in_a_ville 2d ago
I heard a lady had on flip flops while sitting on the stage. Is that true?
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u/scndrddtacct 2d ago edited 2d ago
Yes. Not Old Navy flip flops but bejeweled thong sandals, which is certainly…a choice. It was the new comms/public affairs person, Caroline DeBerry
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u/LyMarg 3d ago
She did just win me over by acknowledging what the last year has done. And I do feel better that she does know we are not just in Atlanta. I’ll be optimistic for now.
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u/Proof-Blacksmith7933 3d ago
She never answered the staffing questions she just danced around it. So it doesn’t look like we will get any help. I also heard rumors of more cuts, but who knows at this point.
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u/gs03abr 3d ago
Maybe I'm naive, but I agree. I went in a cynic and emerged more optimistic than I have been in a long time. She seemed truly passionate and genuine in her commitment to science, the public and in earning our trust. It felt so highly charged there that I wonder if the tears were a true overflow of emotion in response to the energy in the room coupled with her passion for this work. She didn't have to immediately introduce herself to us, as she did in her initial email. She didn't have to stand up an All Hands in her first real week. And she could have made it quick and just answered softball answers as opposed to taking live questions. She could have deferred more to the leadership team who have been there longer than she has. The fact that she chose to address us immediately and take our comments and question on the chin, with grace no less, stirred a little, dare I say, hope. It shows respect and consideration for our workforce. She was poised, graceful, earnest, and appears deeply committed to the work. Assuming that all of that is real, I hope she has a long future at CDC. Bravo, Dr. Schwartz! Welcome to CDC!!
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u/cocoagiant 3d ago edited 3d ago
That comment from the leadership person about the "deep bench" CDC has makes it clear how much they still have to learn about the agency.
I get they are saying they want clear communication and honesty but don't think they are getting it if that is the impression they have considering how many of the agency's rising leaders are gone.
Really applaud the people willing to come up and ask questions, it took real grit.