Dr. Anthony Fauci Retirement: Why Is Joe Biden's Chief Medical Adviser Leaving in December?

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the country's top infectious disease specialist who became a household figure and the target of partisan assaults during the COVID-19 pandemic, revealed Monday that he will leave the federal government after more than five decades of service in December.

Fauci was the head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the leader of the NIAID Laboratory of Immunoregulation before becoming President Joe Biden's main medical adviser. Even before the coronavirus, he was a pioneer in the government response to HIV/AIDS and other infectious illnesses.

Fauci Reveals Retirement in December

President Joe Biden stated that Anthony Fauci had saved countless lives via his work on infectious illnesses such as the AIDS epidemic, Ebola, Zika, and the coronavirus pandemic. As COVID-19 struck in early 2020, Dr. Anthony Fauci became the face of the government's reaction, making regular appearances on television news and at daily press briefings with White House officials, including then-President Donald Trump.

However, as the pandemic worsened, Fauci fell out of favor with Trump and his administration when his calls for continuing public caution contrasted with the previous president's desire to return to normalcy and push untested viral treatments, according to CBC.

Dr. Anthony Fauci did not indicate what he planned to do next, although he did rule out working in the pharmaceutical sector. He stated that he has been working on a memoir but does not yet have a publisher. Fauci's resignation will not preclude a thorough examination of the causes of the pandemic. "He will be called to testify under oath about any talks he engaged in respecting the lab leak," Paul said of Fauci's resignation on Twitter.

Some speculated that if Republicans won control of Congress in November they might launch an inquiry into Anthony Fauci. There was conjecture that he may resign to avoid this. Fauci dismissed this as "nonsense." Republicans, on the other hand, have already promised to summon him before Congress, whether or not he works for the government.

Republicans React to Anthony Fauci's Retirement

"Dr. Fauci is conveniently stepping down in December before House Republicans can hold him accountable for wrecking our country over the last three years. This man is a coward," Republican Rep. Andy Biggs, a member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, tweeted.

Republican Rep. James Comer, who would lead the Oversight Committee if Republicans take control of Congress in November, tweeted, "Retirement can't insulate Dr. Fauci from congressional oversight," as per Daily Mail.

According to Fox News' Power Rankings, Republican gains have diminished since the latest pulse check in July. Republicans will still capture the House, according to the rankings, but the majority will likely be between 2 and 30 seats, depending on the results of toss-up districts around the country. Republicans would have a 16-seat advantage in the lower house if they won half of the nation's toss-up elections.

However, the GOP is likely to have fewer seats in play than in July. Republicans were anticipated to secure a 22-seat advantage in the latest rankings (again, assuming they win half the toss-up races). The GOP net gain has fallen by six seats in the previous six weeks, with a new predicted majority of 16 seats, Fox News reported.