HHS’ National Institute of Health (NIH) had been slated to dole out $168,000 for the Fauci exhibit, which was expected to be completed by the end of July, according to a Friday announcement from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
“In the past 48 hours, HHS canceled 62 contract[s] worth $182 million. These contracts were entirely for administrative expenses – none touched any healthcare programs. This included terminating a $168,000 contract for an Anthony Fauci exhibit at the NIH Museum,” DOGE posted on its official X account.
In the past 48 hours, HHS canceled 62 contract worth $182 million. These contracts were entirely for administrative expenses – none touched any healthcare programs. This included terminating a $168,000 contract for an Anthony Fauci exhibit at the NIH Museum. pic.twitter.com/EsZxflPS6w
Under Tesla and SpaceX boss Elon Musk’s leadership, DOGE has taken aim at agencies and departments across the federal government. The White House office has staffers embedded at multiple agencies and had tapped into the Treasury Department’s federal payment systems before losing access following a court ruling over the weekend.
Thus far, DOGE estimates that it has saved taxpayers billions of dollars, but some of those initiatives are facing tough legal scrutiny.
The Fauci exhibit would have been placed in the National Museum of Health and Medicine in suburban Silver Spring, Md.
Fauci, 84, had helmed the NIH’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases between 1984 and 2022 and was known for his efforts to combat AIDS in the 1980s and 1990s before the onset of COVID-19 in 2020.During the twilight years of Fauci’s career, he became battered by controversy for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and advocacy for aggressive virus suppression measures that drew the wrath of conservatives.
Fauci had emerged as one of the foremost voices during the thick of the pandemic and became ensnared in controversy for his handling of questions before Congress about the federal funding of gain-of-function research overseas.
Emails suggest that a top Fauci lieutenant helped restore a grant for EcoHealth Alliance to fund risky research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology — located in the city where the pandemic emerged — and that Fauci was made aware of the change via a “secret back channel.”Fauci claimed he didn’t “recall any specific interaction” and has said he wasn’t “involved” with that grant.
Last month, Trump announced he had cut off funding for Fauci’s post-retirement security detail.
“I think, you know, when you work for government, at some point your security detail comes off and, you know, you can’t have them forever,” the president explained at the time. “We took some off other people, too, but you can’t have a security detail for the rest of your life because you work for government.”
Former President Joe Biden gave Fauci a controversial pre-emptive pardon before departing the White House Jan. 20 amid Democratic fears that the doctor could become a target for prosecution by the Trump administration. In addition to nixing Fauci’s museum exhibit, the NIH announced reforms to its grant process intended to reduce overhead and save taxpayers $4 billion annually.
“Last year, $9B of the $35B that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) granted for research was used for administrative overhead, what is known as ‘indirect costs,’” the NIH explained on X. “Today, NIH lowered the maximum indirect cost rate research institutions can charge the government to 15%, above what many major foundations allow and much lower than the 60%+ that some institutions charge the government today. This change will save more than $4B a year effective immediately.”
Former President Joe Biden gave Fauci a controversial pre-emptive pardon before departing the White House Jan. 20 amid Democratic fears that the doctor could become a target for prosecution by the Trump administration. In addition to nixing Fauci’s museum exhibit, the NIH announced reforms to its grant process intended to reduce overhead and save taxpayers $4 billion annually.