J.D. Vance pledges to 'defund' Fauci
Ohio Republican Senate candidate and Hillbilly Elegy author J.D. Vance tweeted Saturday that he had signed a pledge stating that, if elected, he would support legislation targeting White House medical adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci.
The "Michael Knowles Federal Public Health Protection Pledge" is the brainchild of conservative commentator Michael Knowles, who co-hosts the podcast The Verdict with Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas). Signatories promise to investigate Fauci, longtime head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and President Biden's top medical adviser, and reduce his federal salary to zero.
According to Forbes, Fauci earned $434,312 in 2020 and is the highest paid employee in the entire federal government.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The signed document, of which Vance included an image in his tweet, is dated Feb. 4. Other Republican signatories include Alabama Senate candidate Katie Britt, North Carolina House candidate Bo Hines, and Arizona House candidate Walt Blackman.
Fauci has repeatedly expressed frustration with the partisan rancor he attracts. Last month, he was caught muttering into a hot mic that Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), who falsely suggested Fauci's personal finances were secret, was a "moron." Earlier that day, Fauci accused Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) of "distorting everything about me" and engaging in "personal attacks."
Fauci has been accused, including by The Week's Ryan Cooper, of making misleading statements about COVID.
-
Trump vs. states: Who gets to regulate AI?Feature Trump launched a task force to challenge state laws on artificial intelligence, but regulation of the technology is under unclear jurisdiction
-
Decking the hallsFeature Americans’ love of holiday decorations has turned Christmas from a humble affair to a sparkly spectacle.
-
Whiskey tariffs cause major problems for American distillersIn the Spotlight Jim Beam is the latest brand to feel the pain
-
CBS pulls ‘60 Minutes’ report on Trump deporteesSpeed Read An investigation into the deportations of Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador’s notorious prison was scrapped
-
Trump administration posts sliver of Epstein filesSpeed Read Many of the Justice Department documents were heavily redacted, though new photos of both Donald Trump and Bill Clinton emerged
-
Trump HHS moves to end care for trans youthSpeed Read The administration is making sweeping proposals that would eliminate gender-affirming care for Americans under age 18
-
Jack Smith tells House of ‘proof’ of Trump’s crimesSpeed Read President Donald Trump ‘engaged in a criminal scheme to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election,’ hoarded classified documents and ‘repeatedly tried to obstruct justice’
-
House GOP revolt forces vote on ACA subsidiesSpeed Read The new health care bill would lower some costs but not extend expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies
-
Hegseth rejects release of full boat strike footageSpeed Read There are calls to release video of the military killing two survivors of a Sept. 2 missile strike on an alleged drug trafficking boat
-
Trump vows naval blockade of most Venezuelan oilSpeed Read The announcement further escalates pressure on President Nicolás Maduro
-
Kushner drops Trump hotel project in SerbiaSpeed Read Affinity Partners pulled out of a deal to finance a Trump-branded development in Belgrade
