Dr. Anthony Fauci, the government’s former top infectious disease expert, often maligned for supporting strict Covid isolation measures, received a whopping $15 million in private security after his retirement from January 4, 2023 to 20 September 2024.
Dr. Fauci, who led the NIH’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases until his retirement in December 2022, had a publicly funded chauffeur and a dedicated security team of U.S. marshals, according to Freedom Act documents of Information obtained by independent journalist Jordan Schachtel and open the books.
During this time, these same services also managed his personal protection while he was still a government official.
The former official has been subject to death threats since the beginning of the pandemic and frequent public criticismwho according to him and other officials deserve greater security.
When Dr. Fauci retired, he was the highest-paid public servant in history, with a record salary of $480,654. By comparison, the president’s salary is $400,000.
Since retiring, he has published a best-selling memoir about his career in public service, spanning from his work during the AIDS crisis in the 1990s to Covid starting in 2020. His book deal was narrowly secured less than 5 million dollars.
According to Open the Books: ‘Until at least the end of September, this agreement between the two government agencies has left the American taxpayer on the hook for the costs associated with Dr. Fauci’s lifestyle, which included a publicly funded chauffeur and a full staff. US Marshals security detail.
Dr. Fauci said last year that his security team was necessary because “I am a big target of the radical far-right in this country.”
The former official has faced death threats and public criticism since the pandemic, prompting calls to beef up security.
The doctor has a target on his back since the appearance of Covid in March 2020.
Open the Books added: ‘It is unclear how unusual the agreement between Health and Human Services and the US Marshals Service may be. We have been unable to find any other case of a former federal employee receiving this level of protection. ‘
His early missteps, including discouraging mask-wearing only to backtrack about a month later, and his advocacy of draconian lockdown measures that shifted millions of children to virtual learning, have drawn widespread criticism and violent threats.
And he added: ‘I receive so many threats. “Some of them are credible threats of violence… that I have to be walking around with federal marshals protecting me, which is completely crazy.”
At the time, the monthly cost of his security team was $1 million in taxpayer dollars.
According to a report obtained by CBS News 60 Minutes, two former Trump administration national security advisers received Secret Service protection after leaving the White House due to possible threats from Iran. The total cost to taxpayers for both individuals’ security equipment exceeded $12 million.
Fauci leaves the ABC studios while being escorted by his US Marshal’s security team after appearing on ‘The View’ on Thursday. The Marshal can be clearly identified by his lapel pin.
Fauci, who has an estimated net worth of $11 million, is constantly surrounded by US marshals, whether he is at home or going to television studios to film interviews.
His security team began to be reduced in June, as the death threats he received have barely ceased.
In 2020, when he was better known than ever, Fauci reported that he never answered the phone or the door for security reasons after months of threats.
He told PBS: ‘We don’t get any mail in the house. You feel like you have to be aware all the time that there is potential danger.’
The report says it’s unclear how unprecedented the agreement is, but notes that it “could find no other cases of a former federal employee receiving this level of protection.”