Former U.S. Chief Medical Advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci no longer receives government-provided security, as President Donald Trump terminated his National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded protection on Thursday, CNN reported. Fauci, who continues to face threats due to his public role during the Covid-19 pandemic, has now hired private security at his own expense, according to sources cited by CNN.
The move is part of broader actions by Trump, who has also stripped security details from former National Security Adviser John Bolton and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
Trump Defends Decision
Defending the decision, Trump told reporters in North Carolina:
“I think, you know, when you work for government, at some point your security detail comes off and, you know, you can’t have them forever.”
When asked if he would feel responsible if anything happened to Fauci or Bolton, Trump responded,
“No. You know, they all made a lot of money. They can hire their own security.”
He added that he could recommend good security firms, but emphasized he would not take responsibility for their safety.
Biden’s Preemptive Pardons
The security withdrawal comes amidst ongoing political tensions. Trump has criticized former President Joe Biden for issuing preemptive pardons to Fauci and others before leaving office. In a statement at the time, Biden defended his actions, saying:
“Even when individuals have done nothing wrong — and in fact have done the right thing — and will ultimately be exonerated, the mere fact of being investigated or prosecuted can irreparably damage reputations and finances.”
Biden’s clemency included General Mark Milley, Fauci, and other officials involved in significant governmental operations, including those investigating the January 6 Capitol attack.
Rising Threats Against Fauci
Fauci has been a frequent target of far-right attacks and Covid-19 conspiracy theories. In a prior CNN interview, he linked the rise in death threats against him and his family to public figures spreading misinformation about his role in pandemic policies.
“It’s a pattern,” Fauci noted. “When someone in the media or in Congress gets up and makes a public statement that I’m responsible for the deaths of X number of people… immediately, the death threats go way up.”
Fauci, who served as the nation’s top infectious diseases expert for 38 years, was awarded a presidential commendation during the pandemic as part of the Operation Warp Speed task force, though Trump later claimed he was unaware of the award.
The ongoing removal of security details for former officials raises concerns about their safety, particularly given the high-profile threats they continue to face.