Dr. Anthony Fauci, former Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, is scheduled to testify before the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee on July 29, 2026. This appearance follows a subpoena issued by Senator Rand Paul, who has been critical of Fauci's role in the Covid-19 pandemic response. Fauci has testified before Congress approximately 250 times throughout his career, addressing various public health issues.
Ahead of the hearing, over 1,100 pages of Fauci's personal diary from 2019 to 2022 were released, detailing his media engagements and concerns regarding the Covid-19 response. The diary entries also reflect his interactions with political figures from both the Trump and Biden administrations. Paul has accused Fauci of endorsing gain-of-function research, which Fauci has denied, stating that US-funded studies did not meet the criteria for such research.
Senator Paul has previously called for Fauci to be indicted for his statements regarding government funding of research in China. In response to ongoing scrutiny, President Joe Biden granted Fauci a pardon during his final days in office, which may protect him from charges related to past statements. However, Paul has indicated that he may pursue perjury charges if Fauci provides false testimony during the upcoming hearing.