Dr. Anthony Fauci, who has spent over five decades in the federal government and has been the face of the coronavirus pandemic response, announced on Monday he’s stepping down from his positions in December, but is not retiring.
Fauci, 81, will be leaving his positions as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, chief of the NIAID Laboratory of Immunoregulation and chief medical advisor to President Biden in order to “pursue the next chapter of my career” he said in a statement. Fauci has served under seven presidents––both Republican and Democratic––and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2008 for his work to advance treatment and understanding of HIV/AIDS. He became a household name when the COVID-19 pandemic started in early 2020 and amid praise he also faced calls to be fired, and personal threats.