Dr. Anthony Fauci, former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), testified before the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic on June 3, 2024. This marked his first public testimony since his retirement in 2022. During the hearing, Fauci conceded that some COVID-19 measures, including school and business closures, may have been excessively stringent. He acknowledged that the six-foot social distancing guideline lacked clinical trial support and that future responses must consider collateral negative effects.
The hearing saw intense exchanges, notably with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who cast doubt on Fauci’s professional credibility and called for his prosecution, accusing him of being responsible for the pandemic and "evil science." Fauci reiterated that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) devised the social distancing guideline, and he maintained an open mind about the virus's origins.
Fauci faced extensive questioning about the origins of COVID-19 and NIH funding for research in China. He denied any wrongdoing and asserted that current evidence predominantly supports the virus's natural origin but keeps an open mind. The hearing also highlighted the death threats against Fauci and his family, with Democrats defending his public service and warning against the delegitimation of public health professionals.