Former President Donald Trump’s recent decision to terminate the taxpayer-funded security detail for Dr. Anthony Fauci has sparked a fresh wave of controversy and raised serious questions about the protection of public figures in a politically charged era.

Dr. Fauci, who served as the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and became the face of the federal government’s COVID-19 response, faced relentless threats throughout the pandemic.

These threats, fueled by the politicization of public health measures and his high-profile visibility, led the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to request additional security measures for him back in 2020, as reported by Fox News.

During the height of the pandemic, Fauci emerged as both a trusted expert and a polarizing figure. His clear recommendations on mask-wearing, vaccination, and social distancing were embraced by many Americans, yet they also drew harsh criticism from those who viewed his guidance as either excessive or contradictory.

This deep division in public opinion manifested in the form of escalating threats against him—a reality that necessitated the provision of taxpayer-funded security to ensure his safety.