Fauci Says He Will Likely Leave Current Position by End of Biden’s Term

Dr. Anthony Fauci told Politico (Lean Left bias) he would leave his current position by the end of President Joe Biden’s current term. 

Fauci, 81, has served as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) since 1984, advising seven presidents on outbreaks of HIV/AIDS, Ebola, COVID-19, and more. 

Explaining his decision, Fauci said, “We’re in a pattern now. If somebody says, ‘You’ll leave when we don’t have Covid anymore,’ then I will be 105. I think we’re going to be living with this.” While he said he didn’t consider Republican opposition in his decision, he also said Republicans were “going to try and come after me, anyway. I mean, probably less so if I’m not in the job.” Fauci told CNN (Left bias) his plans to leave by the end of Biden’s term were nothing new, saying, “I have said that for a long time.”

Coverage was widespread across the spectrum but more prominently featured in outlets like Fox News (Right bias) and CNN, which often engage in political sensationalism. While coverage was generally balanced on Monday afternoon, Politico framed potential Republican investigations as “attacks,” and Fox News portrayed Fauci as “politically divisive.” Update 7/19/22 12:23 p.m. ET: Fauci clarified on Tuesday that he planned only to leave his current position, not to retire generally.