The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), spearheaded by Elon Musk, has canceled over $180 million in Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) contracts within a 48-hour period. This includes a nearly $170,000 contract for an exhibit dedicated to Anthony Fauci at the NIH Museum.
DOGE announced the cancellation of 62 contracts totaling $182 million on Friday, emphasizing that these funds were allocated for administrative expenses and did not impact healthcare programs. This move is the latest in a series of cost-cutting measures implemented by DOGE across various federal agencies.
The planned Fauci exhibit, slated for completion by July 2025, has been scrapped. Fauci, a figure who has frequently clashed with former President Donald Trump, recently had his taxpayer-funded security detail revoked by Trump. The security detail was initially requested in 2020 when Fauci became the government's spokesperson during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Trump defended the decision, stating that security details for government officials are not meant to be permanent. Fauci received a preemptive pardon from former President Joe Biden on his last day in office, seemingly anticipating potential actions by Trump during his second term. Notably, Fauci had not been charged with any crimes at the time of the pardon.
Fauci served as the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) for nearly 30 years, from 1984 to 2022, and also acted as chief medical advisor to the president during the COVID-19 pandemic. His career at the National Institutes of Health began in 1968, and he garnered widespread recognition for his work on HIV/AIDS before becoming a prominent figure during the pandemic.
HHS has not yet responded to requests for comment on these developments.
