A new proposal from House Republicans aims to prevent Dr. Anthony Fauci from rejoining the federal workforce following his contentious appearance on Capitol Hill. This legislation comes after Fauci repeatedly invoked the Fifth Amendment during a Senate Committee hearing chaired by Sen. Rand Paul.
Rep. Rich McCormick, a Republican from Georgia, introduced the bill. It seeks to bar individuals from federal employment if they refuse to answer questions from lawmakers or are convicted of perjury. McCormick emphasized accountability, drawing parallels between government and private sector employment.
“If you don’t want to answer questions about what you did wrong, we should be able to fire you,” McCormick stated in a video shared with Fox News Digital.
The proposed legislation, named the STOP the SWAMP Act, also grants Congress authority to refer individuals for prosecution if found to have unlawfully withheld information.
Dr. Fauci, who is not currently facing criminal charges, has consistently denied any misconduct. However, Sen. Rand Paul has indicated intentions to press for contempt of Congress charges.
Fauci’s recent Senate appearance renewed examination of his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. This scrutiny intensified after the release of his diary, which includes entries revealing his reflections during the crisis.
Some diary entries attributed school closures to his influence, a contested issue during the pandemic. Nonetheless, Fauci testified before the House Oversight Committee in 2024, clarifying he did not directly order school closures.
Fauci, who served as the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for several decades, became an emblematic figure in the U.S. COVID-19 response.
Reporter Elizabeth Elkind covers the House for Fox News Digital, with her work appearing in outlets such as Daily Mail and CBS News.
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