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When Elon Musk took to X, reacting to recent revelations about Dr. Anthony Fauci's taxpayer-funded security detail with a simple "Wow, this is insane," he wasn't alone in his astonishment. The former “highest-paid federal employee,” whose salary once surpassed that of the U.S. president, has been receiving multi-million-dollar security protection—on the public's dime—since stepping down from his government role.
In December 2022, Fauci retired from public service, yet he continues to be shielded by U.S. federal marshals, a service usually reserved for top-tier officials or, say, former presidents. But here’s the kicker: from January 2023 to September 2024, Fauci's special security package cost the U.S. taxpayer a staggering $15 million.
Wow, this is insane
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 12, 2024
The Fauci Bill
According to a memo revealed by investigative journalist Jordan Schachtel and watchdog group Open the Books, Fauci's security team included not just the usual personnel but deputy marshals, admin staff, law enforcement equipment, and transportation—every detail covered to protect the man who once declared himself as “the science.” The arrangement between the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the U.S. Marshals Service raises the question: why are we paying more than we pay some foreign leaders to keep a retired bureaucrat safe?
Critics like Senator Rand Paul have been vocal about the absurdity of it all. “Why is a retired guy—the only retired official I know of that gets this kind of treatment—a former president?” Paul asked in an interview, highlighting the unprecedented nature of the setup. “It’s a terrible example of the government lying to its representatives and to the people,” he said, pointing to the layers of obfuscation shrouding Fauci’s spending.
Threats or Excuses?
Fauci insists he’s had no choice but to keep the security detail. Claiming he’s a “big target of the extreme radical right,” Fauci has cited threats as the reason he’s had to be “walking around with federal marshals protecting me.”
Meanwhile, figures like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have been denied security by the Biden administration. Kennedy, who faced legitimate safety concerns during his presidential run, was repeatedly denied Secret Service protection despite his high-profile status.
A Golden Parachute for the “Science” Guy
When he retired, Fauci didn’t just walk away with a hefty pension estimated at $375,000 annually. Open the Books projects that his retirement package will increase to $414,000 by 2025. Combined with a net worth exceeding $12.6 million, Fauci’s status as a multi-millionaire on a government paycheck is just one more reason the $15 million security detail feels like a final slap in the face to taxpayers.
As the nation questions priorities, the real scandal isn’t the cost itself—it’s the justification, or lack thereof, for why a retired government employee, no longer a public servant, deserves a security package more fitting for a head of state than a man supposedly fading into retirement.
Musk’s reaction on X may just be the start. If “This is crazy” doesn’t inspire deeper scrutiny into where taxpayer dollars are truly going, then perhaps nothing will.
References:
Schachtel, J. (2024). Investigative Report on Dr. Fauci’s $15 Million Security Detail. Open the Books. Retrieved from Open the Books
Neefus, C. (2024). Open the Books Calls for Transparency in NIH Financial Arrangements. National Review. Available at National Review
Paul, R. (2023, July). Interview with Jesse Watters. Fox News. Fox News
Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, & U.S. Marshals Service (2023). Memorandum of Understanding on Dr. Anthony Fauci’s Security Detail.
Open the Books. (2023). FOIA Request Yields Details on Fauci's Post-Retirement Security Costs. Retrieved from Open the Books FOIA
National Review Staff. (2024). Anthony Fauci’s Retirement Benefits and Security Detail Costs Raise Questions. National Review. National Review
Kennedy Jr. Denied Secret Service Protection Despite Threats. (2024). Reuters. Reuters
