House GOP Bill Seeks to Ban Fauci from Federal Work After Hearing

A new proposal from the Republican party in the House aims to prevent Dr. Anthony Fauci from future employment in the federal government. This follows his intense hearing on Capitol Hill. Fauci faced the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, led by Sen. Rand Paul from Kentucky. During the proceedings, he invoked the Fifth Amendment over 100 times.

Republicans have criticized Fauci’s actions, and now, Rep. Rich McCormick of Georgia has introduced a bill targeting his ability to return to federal service. This bill might also expose him to criminal prosecution.

“We saw him evade so many questions, pleading the Fifth… that’s fine, that’s your constitutional right,” McCormick said in a video with Fox News Digital. “But you also have the right, if your till comes up short at Burger King, when your boss asks you why are you short $20 in your cash register — if you plead the Fifth, that’s your… ability, but I can fire you.”

McCormick expressed that the same standard should apply to government employees. He emphasized the importance of accountability by highlighting that refusal to answer questions about potential misconduct should result in termination.

The bill, known as the STOP the SWAMP Act, seeks to disqualify individuals from federal employment if they fail to respond to specific questions from federal lawmakers or if convicted of perjury. According to McCormick’s website, the bill would also permit Congress to refer witnesses for prosecution if they are found to have deliberately withheld information.

At present, Fauci is not facing criminal charges, and he has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. However, Sen. Paul, a known critic of Fauci, has stated that his committee would initiate contempt of Congress proceedings against him following the hearing.

Fauci’s testimony before the Senate GOP-led panel occurred amid increasing scrutiny concerning his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. This came after the release of a diary detailing his experiences during the pandemic.

Diary entries revealed by Paul before the hearing illustrated Fauci’s thoughts on his fame during the pandemic and the origins of the disease. Some entries suggested Fauci took credit for influencing policies that led to school closures, a topic that sparked significant debate.

“I did not close the schools,” Fauci previously told the House Oversight Committee in January 2024.

Fauci became a prominent figure during the U.S. COVID-19 response, earning both praise and criticism. He served as the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases from 1984 to 2022.

The coverage of these developments is led by Elizabeth Elkind, a politics reporter for Fox News Digital, who has also contributed to the Daily Mail and CBS News.