Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, one of the nation’s most prominent health officials during the coronavirus pandemic, has lost his government-financed security protection, according to sources close to the matter. Former President Donald J. Trump, in a decision announced Thursday night, ended the federal security arrangement that had been in place to protect Dr. Fauci amid ongoing death threats he received during the pandemic.
Dr. Fauci, who retired from government service in December 2022, had been protected by federal marshals and later by a private contractor funded by the government. His high-profile role as the director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, coupled with his guidance during the pandemic, made him a target of criticism, particularly from conservative figures.
In response to the loss of his security detail, Dr. Fauci has hired a private security team, according to a person familiar with the situation.
“You can’t have it forever,” Mr. Trump remarked during a trip to North Carolina on Friday, referring to government-provided security for former officials.
This decision comes amid a broader pattern of security revocations under Mr. Trump’s oversight, including the recent withdrawal of protections for former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and former national security adviser John Bolton.
Both Mr. Pompeo and Mr. Bolton had been under threat from Iran due to actions taken during Mr. Trump’s first administration, but the former president has maintained that such security details are not an indefinite entitlement.
The move to strip Dr. Fauci of his security detail follows mounting political pressure, particularly from Senator Rand Paul, a Republican from Kentucky. Mr. Paul, a vocal critic of Dr. Fauci throughout the pandemic, had publicly called for the removal of his security detail, citing cost concerns.
On Thursday, Mr. Paul tweeted that he had “sent supporting information to end the 24 hr a day limo and security detail for Fauci,” adding, “I wish him nothing but peace but he needs to pay for his own limos.”
Dr. Fauci’s security arrangement became a contentious political issue as Mr. Paul and other conservatives continued to accuse him of mishandling the pandemic response. On the same day as Mr. Paul’s tweet, he criticized President Joe Biden for allegedly offering Dr. Fauci a preemptive pardon, implying guilt on Dr. Fauci’s part.
The loss of federal protection for Dr. Fauci comes against the backdrop of the significant threats he faced during his tenure as a public health leader. In May 2022, a West Virginia man pleaded guilty to sending threatening emails to Dr. Fauci and other federal officials, including death threats targeting their families.
The decision to revoke Dr. Fauci’s protection has drawn sharp criticism from his supporters, who argue that the ongoing threats to his safety warrant continued security measures. However, Mr. Trump’s latest decision highlights the complexities of balancing security needs with political and fiscal considerations for former government officials.
Dr. Fauci has yet to issue a public statement on the matter, but sources confirm that he has taken steps to ensure his safety independently.