Former President Donald Trump has reportedly ended taxpayer-funded security for Dr. Anthony Fauci, the former NIAID director and key public health official during COVID-19. Fauci faced numerous threats due to his role in the pandemic response, leading the NIH to request security for him in 2020. His guidance on masks, vaccines, and distancing made him a polarizing figure—widely respected by some but criticized by others who saw his recommendations as overreach.