Late Friday, President Donald Trump confirmed that he has terminated the security detail provided to Dr. Anthony Fauci.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) requested security for Fauci in 2020 to protect him from threats he received as the top health official and public spokesperson during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fauci’s detail was pulled on Thursday night, according to CNN.
Trump was pressed on the decision during a tour of the Asheville, North Carolina area — which was hit hard by Hurricane Helene.
“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,” Trump said.
“We took some off other people, too, but you can’t have a security detail for the rest of your life because you work for government,” he added.
On the surface, it looked like a pretty cut-and-dry move.
However, Fauci’s security details cost taxpayers nearly $15 million.
As previously reported by The Horn News, Fauci, who retired in December 2022, reportedly got a whopping $15 million in taxpayer-funded security services.
These services came after he retired and were provided between January 4, 2023, and September 20, 2024, according to government watchdog organization Open The Books.
🚨🇺🇸FAUCI RECEIVED $15M SECURITY DETAIL AFTER RETIREMENT
Fauci was guarded by U.S. Marshals post-retirement, costing taxpayers $15 million, documents reveal.
The detail, arranged by HHS, NIH, and the U.S. Marshals, covered deputy salaries, transportation, and equipment.
The… pic.twitter.com/4CbUe2bVDY
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) November 12, 2024
Through a Freedom of Information Act request, Open the Books discovered evidence in a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the U.S. Marshals service and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that money covered “Salaries and benefits for deputies and administrative personnel assigned to Fauci’s protective detail; costs related to transporting Fauci, and law enforcement equipment.”
Former President Joe Biden offered a preemptive pardon to Fauci on his way out of office.
Though Trump had initially followed Fauci’s recommendations at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, he began to criticize Fauci as the government’s pandemic response and recommendations proved to be unpopular.
Fauci served as the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases from 1984 to 2022 and was the chief medical advisor to the president from 2021 to 2022.
Trump awarded presidential commendations to Fauci and other members of Operation Warp Speed in 2021 for their work to quickly develop coronavirus vaccines.
In addition to Fauci, Trump also revoked the security clearances of 51 intelligence officials who had wrongly claimed that Hunter Biden’s laptop had “all the classic earmarks of a Russian information operation,” as well as the details provided to former national security advisor John Bolton and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
When asked by one reporter if he would feel responsible if something were to happen to Fauci, or others, Trump said:
“No. You know, they all made a lot of money. They can hire their own security,” Trump said, adding that he knows several good security firms and “can give them some good numbers.”
“Certainly I would not take responsibility,” he said.