(FILES) In this file photo taken on December 01, 2021 Chief Medical Advisor to the president Dr. Anthony Fauci speaks during the daily briefing in the Brady Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, DC. Anthony Fauci, who has helmed the United States鈥� response to infectious disease outbreaks since the 1980s, will retire by the end of President Joe Biden鈥檚 current term, he said in interviews August 22, 2022. (Photo by MANDEL NGAN / AFP)
WASHINGTON, DC 鈥斅燗nthony Fauci, the top infectious disease expert who became the face of America鈥檚 fight against COVID-19, announced Monday he will leave government service after more than 50 years in December, stepping down as advisor to President Joe Biden.
In the chaotic early days of the pandemic, Fauci became the nation鈥檚 most trusted expert on COVID 鈥� but his clashes with former president Donald Trump over the virus response drew anger from the right, and he now lives with security protection following death threats against his family.
The 81-year-old, who has served under seven presidents beginning with Ronald Reagan, said in a statement he would be leaving both his position as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), and that of chief medical advisor to Biden.
But he added: 鈥淚 am not retiring.鈥� Instead Fauci, who had said he would leave by the end of Biden鈥檚 current term, said he now intended to 鈥減ursue the next chapter of my career.鈥�
Biden extended his 鈥渄eepest thanks鈥� to Fauci in a White House statement, adding that the country is 鈥渟tronger, more resilient, and healthier because of him.鈥�
Fauci has helmed the United States鈥� response to infectious disease outbreaks since the 1980s, from HIV/AIDS to COVID.
When the coronavirus first spread globally from China in 2020, he became a credible source of reliable information, reassuring the public with his calm and professorial demeanor during frequent media appearances.
His straight-talking approach won him legions of fans, who bought T-shirts and bobbleheads in his likeness and made cocktails named after him.
鈥淚 will always be grateful that we had a once-in-a-century public health leader to guide us through a once-in-a-century pandemic,鈥� tweeted former president Barack Obama upon news Fauci was stepping down.
But his honest takes on America鈥檚 early failures to get to grips with the virus soon brought Fauci into conflict with Trump. The White House at one point barred him from doing TV interviews and launched a media blitz against him.
The clash helped turn him into a hate figure for many on the right 鈥� already incensed by the pandemic protections Fauci was advocating, from masks and vaccines to lockdown measures.
鈥淒r. Fauci lost the trust of the American people when his guidance unnecessarily kept schools closed and businesses shut,鈥� Republican House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy tweeted Monday.
In emotional testimony earlier this year, Fauci slammed another prominent Republican, the vaccine skeptic Senator Rand Paul, for unleashing 鈥渃razies鈥� against him, recounting 鈥渢hreats upon my life, harassment of my family, and my children with obscene phone calls.鈥�
This month a West Virginia man was sentenced to three years in prison for threatening to drag Fauci and his family into the street and beat them to death.
But despite the threats, Fauci has been conciliatory towards Trump, telling Politico that they developed 鈥渁n interesting relationship.鈥�
鈥楬onor of a lifetime鈥�
It was not the first time Fauci faced criticism and clashes. In the 1980s he became a lightning rod for accusations the government was not doing enough to stem the rise of HIV/AIDS 鈥� but he later forged a close collaboration with activists.
His accomplishments include implementing a fast-track system that widened access to antiretroviral medicines, and working with former president George H.W. Bush to plow in more resources.
Later, under president George W. Bush, Fauci was the architect of a relief plan credited with saving millions of lives in sub-Saharan Africa.
As a scientist, he is credited with developing effective treatments for formerly fatal inflammatory diseases, as well as for contributions into understanding how HIV destroys the body鈥檚 defenses.
Despite his many duties, he had continued to treat patients at the NIH鈥檚 Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. It was not clear if that was part of his plans going forward.
Biden said that after winning the 2020 election, as he built a team to lead the COVID-19 response, Fauci was 鈥渙ne of my first calls.鈥�
鈥淚鈥檝e been able to call him at any hour of the day for his advice,鈥� the president stated.
Fauci said it had been the 鈥渉onor of a lifetime鈥� to lead the NIAID, which he has done since 1984.
He did not spell out what he will do next, but said he wants to inspire and mentor the next generation, citing the 鈥渆nergy and passion鈥� he still has for the field despite his decades of service.
鈥淚 am proud to have been part of this important work,鈥� he said.