More than seven months have passed since a deadly shooting attack at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, yet the federal agency’s damaged windows remain covered with paper as a stark reminder of the violence.
During a staff meeting on Wednesday, CDC employees questioned acting director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya about when the bullet-damaged window panes would finally be replaced.
“We’re working on that,” Bhattacharya responded, emphasizing it remains a top concern. A fellow CDC administrator confirmed that permanent window restoration efforts are currently in progress, according to a recording of the meeting obtained by The Associated Press.
Following the staff gathering, CDC leadership sent an email to workers explaining that repair work would commence this month. Officials noted that each window requires custom manufacturing, weather conditions affect installation timing, and the project remains on its planned timeline.
Last August, 30-year-old Patrick Joseph White unleashed more than 180 rounds of gunfire at the CDC campus, shattering approximately 150 windows. The bullets penetrated even “blast-resistant” glass panels and sent debris flying into multiple office spaces, according to internal agency documents.
CDC security personnel had initially confronted White before he drove to a nearby pharmacy and began his assault on the health agency’s buildings. Police officer David Rose arrived at the scene and lost his life in the incident. White also died during the confrontation. While no CDC staff members suffered physical injuries, many experienced terror during the attack.
White had attributed his depression and suicidal thoughts to receiving the COVID-19 vaccination.
Numerous CDC workers expressed disappointment with how U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. handled the aftermath. Kennedy, the political appointee who supervises the CDC and other federal health organizations, conducted only a brief weekend inspection of the damaged facility without attempting to connect with agency personnel.
Before President Donald Trump appointed him to lead federal health agencies, Kennedy had been a prominent figure in the anti-vaccination movement and has spread inaccurate information regarding COVID-19 vaccines and other immunizations.
Bhattacharya revealed that he requested Kennedy’s approval to honor the fallen officer by renaming the CDC’s entrance roadway after Rose, and Kennedy has agreed to the tribute.
