A new bill introduced by House Republicans seeks to prohibit Dr. Anthony Fauci from ever working for the federal government again. The proposal, dubbed the STOP the SWAMP Act, comes after Fauci invoked his Fifth Amendment right over 100 times during a hearing before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Rep. Rich McCormick, R-Ga., introduced the bill, which would bar individuals from federal employment if they refuse to answer questions from federal lawmakers or are convicted of perjury. According to a news release from McCormick's office, the legislation would also allow members of Congress to refer witnesses for prosecution if they are found to have unlawfully withheld information.
McCormick stated in a video shared with Fox News Digital that "if you don't want to answer questions about what you did wrong, we should be able to fire you," drawing a parallel to employment situations in the private sector.
Dr. Fauci appeared before the Senate panel, chaired by Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., amid renewed scrutiny of his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Newly released diary entries from the pandemic era have surfaced, with some appearing to show Fauci taking credit for influencing policies that led to school closures. However, Fauci previously testified before the House Oversight Committee in January 2024 that, "I did not close the schools."
Sen. Paul, a vocal critic of Fauci, announced that his committee would initiate proceedings to hold the doctor in contempt of Congress following the hearing.
Fauci, who served as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases from 1984 to 2022, has not been charged with any crimes and has consistently denied any wrongdoing. The former public health official became a prominent figure in the U.S. government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, attracting both praise and criticism.