Dr. Fauci Set to Retire Before New Presidential Term

On Monday, July 18, Dr. Anthony Fauci, President Biden’s chief medical advisor, confirmed that he would retire by the end of President Biden‘s current term. In other words, he won’t be serving in the government beyond January 2025.

The top infectious disease expert also mentioned that he might retire earlier than that stating in a telephone interview with Reuters, “I haven’t made an announcement of my retirement, but it could be anywhere from now until then.” Although he doesn’t plan to continue his work in the government, Dr. Fauci announced that he will keep working. He commented, “I still have a lot of energy and passion about public health and global public health.”

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the US’ top infectious disease expert, says he plans to leave his role before the end of President Biden’s current term https://t.co/NXz8ug9lqI

— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) July 18, 2022

This 81-year-old doctor and scientist has been in service of the government for more than 50 years. He also has been serving as the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) since 1984. During his career, he has advised seven presidents on HIV/AIDS. According to CNN, in his tenure, he has “helped lead the federal public health response to the HIV/AIDS crisis, Ebola, the Zika virus and anthrax scares.”

However, it’s worth noting that Dr. Fauci mentioned that he was “not even remotely contemplating” retirement in late November 2021. Dr. Fauci and former President Trump have been at odds over how to handle the COVID-19 outbreak, and this has made him the target of many Republicans. The politicization of COVID-19 has made his family receive death threats and harassment during 2020. He might even face an investigation after January 2023, when Republicans gain control of one or both houses of Congress. When discussing this underlying factor, New York Times stated that “even with the added clarity about the possible timing of his retirement, January 2025 is a long way away. The bigger question is whether Dr. Fauci will leave before January 2023.”

BREAKING: Dr. Anthony Fauci announces that he will retire by the end of Joe Biden’s term in office — having saved countless lives despite Republican attacks and Trump’s botched COVID-19 response. RT TO THANK FAUCI FOR HIS ALL WORK!

— Occupy Democrats (@OccupyDemocrats) July 18, 2022

However, in his interview with Politico, Dr.Fauci said that this “is not part of his calculus for retirement.” He believes that they will try to investigate him anyway, regardless of whether he is in the position. Correspondingly, he is not afraid of the investigation. He added that it’s important to “follow fundamental good public health practices,” and he doesn’t think that Republicans “can say anything about science.” Also, during that interview, he mentioned that he want to calm the politicalization of COVID-19. Science, in any sense, should not become a tool to exacerbate partisan polarization.

Though Dr. Fauci admitted that the country and the world would live together with COVID-19 for quite a period of time, he also suggested that we are in a steady state now. The COVID vaccines have protected millions, and according to Dr. Fauci, the goal would be to let the public take it once-a-year for future protection, just like the yearly flu-shot.

Readers can check out the video below to learn more about Fauci’s retirement.