Growing unrest within the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has escalated into a major controversy, as more than 1,000 current and former employees have called for the resignation of Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr.

In a letter addressed to Kennedy, the President, and Congress, health officials argued that his actions are “compromising the health of the nation.” The demand follows the ouster of CDC Director Susan Monarez, which triggered the resignation of four senior agency leaders.

The letter, reported by The Hill, stated: “Should he decline to resign, we call upon the President and Congress to appoint a new Secretary of Health and Human Services—one whose qualifications and experience ensure that health policy is informed by independent and unbiased peer-reviewed science.”

The protest builds on earlier efforts in August, when employees urged Kennedy to prioritize the safety of health professionals after the fatal shooting at CDC headquarters in Atlanta on August 8. Since the initial petition, nearly 900 additional staff members have signed on, according to the advocacy group Save HHS.

Signatories accused Kennedy of appointing “political ideologues who pose as scientific experts and manipulate data to fit predetermined conclusions,” while also verbally targeting his own employees. They warned that his leadership risks placing all Americans’ health “at risk, regardless of their politics.”

While HHS dismissed the letter as politicizing a tragedy, Kennedy has yet to publicly respond. Some staff members signed anonymously, citing fear of retaliation.

Observers say the widening backlash highlights growing tensions over scientific integrity and governance within the federal health system.