Dr Fauci

Multiple news outlets are reporting that Dr. Anthony Fauci intends to step down from his post as the Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases come December. Fauci is known most recently as the Chief Medical Advisor to President Joe Biden. Fauci also provided advice to former President Donald Trump as well.

Dr. Fauci has held his position at the National Institute of Health for thirty-eight years. Fauci served in a prolific role during the height of the AIDS crisis, but he is most recently known for his advisory role in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fauci has served under seven different presidents during his time with the federal government. The most current president, Joe Biden, offered praise to Fauci as “a dedicated public servant, and a steady hand with wisdom and insight honed over decades at the forefront of some of our most dangerous and challenging public health crises.”

Fauci said in reply, “I am particularly proud to have served as the Chief Medical Advisor to President Joe Biden since the very first day of his administration.”

Fauci has many accomplishments under his belt. He has worked on, not only the HIV virus (including AIDS), but Fauci has also done extensive work regarding the West Nile virus, anthrax, bird flu, and the Zika virus. Fauci was also an advisor to the federal government during the possibility of an Ebola virus outbreak.

Fauci said that he is not retiring, although many would expect him at the age of 81. Fauci said that he “still (has) so much energy and passion for (his) field.” He said wants to continue doing work to advance science and possibly mentor younger scientists in his field.

Fauci said that he will spend the remaining months of his time at the National Institute of Health both preparing the organization for a leadership change and keeping up his current responsibilities. Fauci added that he is proud to have been a part of the work done at NIH.

While there are those who heap praises on Dr. Fauci, there are just as many who do not. Senator Rand Paul has called for Dr. Fauci to testify before Congressional committees multiple times during the pandemic. The two have sparred regularly over how Dr. Fauci handled COVID, including mask mandates, shutting down businesses and schools, and vaccine requirements.

Dr. Fauci has contracted COVID-19 himself in June 2022, and, after taking Paxlovid, a newly-approved therapeutic specifically for the coronavirus, Fauci experienced rebound COVID symptoms about two weeks later. Dr. Fauci had been vaccinated early, and he had received two boosters.

Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) has inferred that he intends to introduce an investigation into Fauci’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic should the Republican Party take the Senate back following November midterm elections.

Paul even told The Hill in July that, if the Republicans take back the Senate chamber as a majority, he intends to “subpoena (Fauci’s) records and he will testify in the Senate under oath.”

Senator Paul has long-maintained that the pandemic is the result of gain-of-function research that was authorized by Dr. Fauci; Paul believes that the virus escaped the Wuhan lab in China. Dr. Fauci has denied this supposition a number of times.

Fauci said at the time, regarding a possible investigation: “. . . If they want to, go ahead. My records are an open book.”

Fauci joined the NIAID in 1984, when Ronald Reagan was president. Fauci, Dr. Deborah Birx, and the CDC all called for lockdowns to help stop the spread of COVID-19. In addition, Fauci strongly advised Americans wear masks – even cloth masks – in order to help slow the spread of the virus.

Last week, the CDC relaxed most of its early-pandemic suggestions, including masking and social distancing. The health agency even admitted that natural immunity can help to prevent people from getting the virus or having serious symptoms.

Further adding to any distrust the American public might have comes after Dr. Deborah Birx admitted on television that COVID-19 was “a pandemic driven by assumptions and perceptions, rather than data and science.”