Dr. Anthony Fauci, who gained public fame during the Covid-19 pandemic as a calm voice for the government response, announced that he would retire after President Joe Biden‘s current term.
Fauci has served under several presidential administrations, starting with President Ronald Reagan.
“I have said that for a long time. By the time we get to the end of Biden’s first term, I will very likely [retire],” he told CNN.
Fauci has served as the Head Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) since he began working during the Reagan administration in 1984.
Fauci also worked as a doctor for the National Health Institute (NIH) on HIV/AIDS research.
The 81-year-old doctor rose to prominence after he became one of former President Donald Trump‘s primary advisers on the Covid-19 pandemic.
Fauci often contradicted Trump’s false claims. In one incident, Trump advocated for injecting Lysol as a preventative measure for Covid-19.
When asked about a possible successor, Fauci assured that much of the staff at the NIAID was chosen by him.
“Everybody in a position of any influence in my institute, I handpick. So it’s something that I’ve been working on now for four decades. So we have a good system in place,” Fauci said. “Obviously, you can’t go on forever. I do want to do other things in my career, even though I’m at a rather advanced age. I have the energy and the passion to continue to want to pursue other aspects of my professional career and I’m going to do that sometime. I’m not exactly sure when, but I don’t see myself being in this job to the point where I can’t do anything else after that.”
