POLITICS + GOVERNMENT

Can President Trump fire Dr. Fauci? Not really

Nov 3, 2020, 4:52 PM | Updated: 4:53 pm

Fauci mask mandate...

Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Dr. Anthony Fauci wears a face mask as he waits to testify before a House Committee on Energy and Commerce on the Trump administration's response to the COVID-19 pandemic on Capitol Hill in Washington on Tuesday, June 23, 2020. (Kevin Dietsch/Pool via AP)

(Kevin Dietsch/Pool via AP)

SALT LAKE CITY — At a campaign rally for President Donald Trump Sunday in South Florida, the crowd chanted: “Fire Fauci! Fire Fauci!”

“Don’t tell anybody, but let me wait until a little bit after the election,” Mr. Trump told his supporters. “I appreciate the advice. He’s a nice man, though. He’s been wrong on a lot.”

Fire Fauci? Hard to do

Because Anthony Fauci, 79, is a career civil servant, and not a political appointee, he is protected by law from political retaliation. But the president can remove him from the White House coronavirus task force.

Fauci has advised six presidents on HIV/AIDS and other domestic and global health issues.

Last month, Fauci was named Federal Employee of the Year during the Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals (Sammies), highlighting the work of employees making important contributions to the US government.

“Tony is without peer in the world of global health as an authoritative, experienced and candid figure,” said former Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt, who was the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services under President George W. Bush, who awarded Fauci the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

As director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) since 1984, Fauci is protected by federal civil-service regulations, which shield him from termination or demotion for political reasons.

Mr. Trump could pressure Fauci’s boss, Dr. Francis Collins, or Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar to fire the doctor.

Protections for civil servants

The civil-service protections require a government agency to show evidence that there is a just cause for being fired, including failure to follow orders or misconduct.

“I’ve got a better idea. Elect me and I’m going to hire Dr. Fauci! And we’re going to fire Donald Trump!” former Vice President Joe Biden said Monday during a campaign rally in Cleveland. 

Speaking at a rally Monday in Atlanta on behalf of Biden, former President Barack Obama ripped Mr. Trump’s suggestion of ousting Fauci, who is “the one person who can actually help them [Trump administration] contain” the coronavirus pandemic.

“One of the few people in this administration who’s been taking this seriously all along — and what’d he say? His second-term plan is to fire that guy,” Mr. Obama said.

In an interview Friday with The Washington Post, Fauci said he hasn’t spoken with Mr. Trump since he called him from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center during his COVID-19 treatment. While there, the president tweeted this:

 

The coronavirus pandemic has killed more than 231,263 Americans.

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Send it to the KSL NewsRadio team here.

Politics + Government

Rep Phil Lyman shown, lyman dei comments came under scrutiny...

Emma Keddington

Rep. Phil Lyman defends post correlating DEI policies with Baltimore bridge collapse

Rep. Phil Lyman is defending a post made Tuesday, that said Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies had something to do with the Baltimore bridge collapse. 

11 hours ago

Former senator Joseph Lieberman...

Jake Tapper, CNN

Former Sen. Joe Lieberman dies at 82

Former Democratic vice presidential nominee and Sen. Joe Lieberman has died, according to a statement from his family.

1 day ago

rep phil lyman shown, he made comments about the bridge collapse in maryland...

Heather Peterson

LISTEN: Utah Rep. Phil Lyman blames Baltimore bridge collapse on DEI

Rep. Phil Lyman said the bridge collapse is because of "governors who prioritize diversity over the wellbeing and security of citizens."

2 days ago

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 4: A view of the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday morning January 4, 2024 in...

MARK SHERMAN

Supreme Court again confronts the issue of abortion, this time over access to widely used pill

Two years after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and cleared the way for bans or severe restrictions on abortion in many Republican-led states, abortion opponents on Tuesday will ask the high court to ratify a ruling from a conservative federal appeals court that would limit access to the medication mifepristone, which was used in nearly two-thirds of all abortions in the United States last year.

3 days ago

File - The Instagram logo is seen on a cell phone in Boston, USA, Oct. 14, 2022. Instagram has star...

Associated Press

New Instagram feature limits display of political content

Instagram has started an automatic clamp down on the amount of political content appearing in its users' feeds.

3 days ago

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene...

Manu Raju, Melanie Zanona, Annie Grayer and Kristin Wilson, CNN

Marjorie Taylor Greene files surprise motion to oust Speaker Johnson, a sign of growing revolt from the right

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia filed a motion, seeking to oust Speaker Mike Johnson from his position.

4 days ago

Sponsored Articles

Mother and cute toddler child in a little fancy wooden cottage, reading a book, drinking tea and en...

Visit Bear Lake

How to find the best winter lodging in Bear Lake, Utah

Winter lodging in Bear Lake can be more limited than in the summer, but with some careful planning you can easily book your next winter trip.

Happy family in winter clothing at the ski resort, winter time, watching at mountains in front of t...

Visit Bear Lake

Ski more for less: Affordable ski resorts near Bear Lake, Utah

Plan your perfect ski getaway in Bear Lake this winter, with pristine slopes, affordable tickets, and breathtaking scenery.

front of the Butch Cassidy museum with a man in a cowboy hat standing in the doorway...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

Looking Back: The History of Bear Lake

The history of Bear Lake is full of fascinating stories. At over 250,000 years old, the lake has seen generations of people visit its shores.

silhouette of a family looking over a lake with a bird in the top corner flying...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

8 Fun Activities To Do in Bear Lake Without Getting in the Water

Bear Lake offers plenty of activities for the whole family to enjoy without having to get in the water. Catch 8 of our favorite activities.

Wellsville Mountains in the spring with a pond in the foreground...

Wasatch Property Management

Advantages of Renting Over Owning a Home

Renting allows you to enjoy luxury amenities and low maintenance without the long-term commitment and responsibilities of owning a home.

Clouds over a red rock vista in Hurricane, Utah...

Wasatch Property Management

Why Southern Utah is a Retirement Paradise

Retirement in southern Utah offers plenty of cultural and recreational opportunities. Find out all that this region has to offer.

Can President Trump fire Dr. Fauci? Not really