The Unmaking of Anthony Fauci
This feature examines the shifting public perception and political scrutiny of Dr. Anthony Fauci as he prepares for congressional testimony. It contrasts his long career of public service and scientific achievement with his current status as a polarizing figure facing legal and political challenges.
Why it matters
The piece highlights the intersection of public health, political polarization, and the changing role of scientific experts in US governance.
Alex Wong / Getty July 28, 2026, 8 AM ET Share Save W hen Anthony Fauci arrives on Capitol Hill tomorrow to testify before Congress, he will be trailed by a security detail he’s paying for himself. Fauci has been testifying before the nation’s elected officials for roughly four decades now, since his days at the forefront of early AIDS research. In years past, he would have prepped by consulting colleagues and poring over data—he would have been there, as he might say, to speak for science. Now he’s under a subpoena from the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and has been conferring with his lawyers on how best to navigate a grilling about his own actions—and what seems to be an effort to catch him in a lie, one that isn’t covered by the blanket presidential pardon he received from Joe Biden.
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