Dr. Anthony Fauci, who retired in December 2022 as the highest-paid federal employee, was provided with $15 million in taxpayer-funded security after leaving public service. Open the Books uncovered the details of this arrangement through a Freedom of Information Act request.
The security measures included a chauffeur, transportation, and a full U.S. Marshals Service security detail. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) justified the arrangement in a memorandum of understanding, citing threats against Fauci from extremist groups.
The U.S. Marshals Service is typically tasked with apprehending fugitives and protecting witnesses, making this arrangement an unusual use of its resources. Critics argue that the cost raises questions about the appropriate allocation of taxpayer funds.
Fauci retired with an annual salary of $480,654 and now collects a pension estimated at $355,000 per year. Since stepping down, he has written a memoir and holds a professorship at Georgetown University, although reports indicate he has not yet taught a class.
As a leading figure during the COVID-19 pandemic, Fauci was both praised and criticized for his handling of the crisis. His policies on masking, social distancing, and vaccines were divisive, and his statements about the origins of the virus evolved over time, including an admission before Congress that the lab leak theory could not be dismissed.
The $15 million cost of his security detail has drawn criticism from those questioning whether such an expense was justified and whether it represents an overreach of government spending.
