
President Trump has made the decision to stop providing security protection for Dr. Anthony Fauci, who had been the key figure in the U.S. response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Fauci had previously been under constant security detail due to the significant threats he had faced during his leadership in handling the pandemic. This move by Trump also affected other former officials like former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and National Security Adviser John Bolton, both of whom had been targeted with threats from Iran.
When questioned about his decision regarding the security of these officials, Trump justified his stance by referring to the common practice of not providing security protection indefinitely to government officials once they have left office. Despite concerns raised about the safety of these individuals, Trump's response highlighted that they had the financial means to afford their own security arrangements. This decision by Trump has stirred controversy, particularly with Republican figures like Sen. Rand Paul, who publicly advocated for the revocation of Fauci's security detail citing associated costs.
Following the removal of security protections, Dr. Fauci took matters into his own hands and secured private security at his own cost. The decision to end security for these officials is based on an assessment of threats by intelligence agencies and is part of the protocol that governs the security provided to former government officials. While former U.S. presidents and their spouses are entitled to lifetime security protection, other former officials are subject to evaluations determining their security needs. Dr. Fauci, who had served at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for more than four decades, was a significant figure in the nation's response to the Covid-19 crisis and underwent intense political scrutiny amid the pandemic.