Rand Paul proposes amendment eliminating Dr. Anthony Fauci’s job
Sen. Rand Paul introduced an amendment Monday that would eliminate Dr. Anthony Fauci’s position as the Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, marking the latest escalation in his feud with the physician who gained national fame during the pandemic.
Paul wants to scrap the singular role of NIAID director and replace it with three separate directors of newly created institutes: a National Institute of Allergic Diseases, a National Institute of Infectious Diseases and a National Institute of Immunologic Diseases.
“We’ve learned a lot over the past two years, but one lesson in particular is that no one person should be deemed dictator-in-chief. No one person should have unilateral authority to make decisions for millions of Americans,” Paul said in a statement.
Paul said the creation of three separate entities would enhance transparency and accountability in the federal government’s response to infectious, immunologic and allergic diseases. Kentucky’s junior senator has arguably been Fauci’s most virulent critic, accusing him of advocating for overzealous lockdowns and mandates during the coronavirus outbreak.
Fauci, in turn, has accused Paul of leveling personal attacks against him to score political points and raise money for his re-election race.
Paul’s amendment is unlikely to pass and it’s unclear if it will even receive a Senate vote. Last month, Paul was part of an unsuccessful conservative effort to defund the federal enforcement of vaccine mandates.
Paul’s drafted amendment would make each of the newly created institutes led by a director who is appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate for a 5-year-term.
Even if the amendment was successful, there would be nothing to prevent a president from re-appointing Fauci as one of the new directors.
Fauci was first appointed Director of the NIAID in 1984 and has advised every president since Ronald Reagan.
NIAID’s press office did not respond to a request for a comment on Paul’s proposal.
