In a startling development, reports have surfaced that some employees at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are allegedly circulating a CIA manual titled Simple Sabotage Field Manual, originally published during World War II, as a covert strategy to undermine Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The manual, declassified decades ago, outlines tactics for disrupting organizations through subtle acts of inefficiency, such as slowing decision-making processes, overcomplicating procedures, and fostering confusion. Disgruntled CDC staff, frustrated by Kennedy’s controversial vaccine policies and the recent firing of CDC Director Susan Monarez, are reportedly using these tactics to create chaos within the agency, hoping to pressure Kennedy to resign or be removed. This internal rebellion reflects deep dissatisfaction with Kennedy’s leadership, which critics argue prioritizes political agendas over scientific integrity.

The Simple Sabotage Field Manual provides practical advice for sowing discord, such as insisting on bureaucratic adherence to “channels,” prolonging meetings with irrelevant discussions, and forming oversized committees to delay decisions. CDC employees are said to be employing these methods to bog down operations, exacerbate existing turmoil, and highlight Kennedy’s mismanagement. For instance, the manual’s suggestion to “haggle over precise wordings of communications” aligns with reports of stalled policy implementations and internal gridlock at the CDC following Monarez’s ouster and the resignation of senior officials like Dr. Debra Houry and Dr. Demetre Daskalakis. These actions aim to amplify the agency’s dysfunction, casting Kennedy as an ineffective leader unfit for his role. The circulation of the manual underscores a desperate attempt by some staff to resist what they perceive as a dangerous politicization of public health.

However, this strategy risks further destabilizing an already beleaguered agency, which has faced mass layoffs, a deadly shooting at its Atlanta headquarters, and widespread criticism of Kennedy’s vaccine skepticism. While the employees’ actions may be driven by a desire to protect the CDC’s scientific mission, their use of sabotage tactics could backfire, eroding public trust in the agency and providing ammunition for Kennedy’s supporters, who might frame the chaos as evidence of entrenched bureaucratic resistance. The White House has defended Kennedy, with Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller calling him a “crown jewel” of the administration, suggesting that these internal efforts may face significant pushback. As the CDC grapples with this covert rebellion, the broader implications for public health policy and the agency’s ability to respond to crises like potential disease outbreaks remain uncertain.