A taxpayer-funded tribute to Dr. Anthony Fauci was abruptly canceled after the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) identified it as a misuse of public funds. The planned museum exhibit, which was set to cost nearly $170,000, was part of a larger $182 million in cuts to unnecessary government contracts.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) had initially approved the funding for an exhibit at the National Museum of Health and Medicine. The display would have showcased Fauci’s long career in government, despite his controversial role in pandemic-era policies. After DOGE reviewed the spending, the project was immediately scrapped, along with dozens of other contracts deemed wasteful.
Elon Musk, who leads DOGE, questioned why taxpayer money was ever allocated for a museum tribute to Fauci, calling the spending completely unnecessary. The decision to cancel the exhibit follows another financial blow to the former government official—his taxpayer-funded security detail was recently revoked by President Donald Trump.
Fauci, who led the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) for decades, remains one of the most polarizing figures in recent history. His recommendations led to lockdowns, mask mandates, and vaccine requirements that many Americans blame for economic hardship and personal losses. Despite his controversial legacy, the federal government had still planned to fund an exhibit celebrating him.
Adding to the controversy, state attorneys general have launched an investigation into Fauci’s handling of pandemic policies. Though former President Joe Biden issued a sweeping pardon covering his actions back to 2014, state officials are still reviewing his role in COVID-19 decision-making.
The cancellation of the exhibit signals a shift in how public funds are being managed, with DOGE eliminating spending that does not directly benefit American taxpayers. The agency continues to review contracts and has already saved billions by cutting unnecessary projects.
