Elon Musk’s DOGE has revoked $180 million in contracts from HHS, including $170,000 for a Fauci museum exhibit. The terminations were all for administrative expenses, not healthcare programs. Fauci, facing controversy regarding COVID policies and allegations of misleading Congress about U.S. funding for research in Wuhan, remains a contentious figure in public health discussions.
Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has terminated over $180 million in contracts with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). This decision included the revocation of approximately $170,000 allocated for a museum exhibit dedicated to Dr. Anthony Fauci. In a swift action, DOGE cancelled 62 HHS contracts within just 48 hours, according to a social media announcement from the agency.
DOGE clarified, “These contracts were entirely for administrative expenses—none touched any healthcare programs. This included terminating a $168,000 contract for an Anthony Fauci exhibit at the NIH museum.” The funding for the exhibit was presumably set for use between July 2024 and July 2025, although specific details about the exhibit remained scarce.
The planned exhibit aimed to commemorate Dr. Fauci’s extensive career, which has included roles advising multiple presidents during the COVID pandemic. However, his legacy faced scrutiny due to controversial COVID policies he endorsed, such as mandates on masks and vaccinations that led to significant backlash, including the dismissal of military personnel for non-compliance. Furthermore, Fauci has faced allegations regarding misleading Congress about US funding of gain-of-function research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology.
Fauci stated during a Senate hearing in May 2021, “The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases has never and does not now fund gain-of-function research in the Wuhan Institute of Virology.” Despite this, various emails revealed that leading NIH officials, including Fauci, were aware of gain-of-function experiments being conducted at Wuhan University, raising concerns about the origins of COVID-19.
In conclusion, the termination of over $180 million in contracts by Elon Musk’s DOGE reflects a significant shift in fiscal priorities, especially in relation to administrative expenses at HHS. Notably, the cancellation of funding for the Fauci exhibit underlines the contentious dialogue surrounding Dr. Fauci’s role in the COVID pandemic and the scrutiny he faces regarding his research practices. These developments highlight the ongoing debates about public health funding and accountability.
Original Source: www.hindustantimes.com
