House Republicans are set to grill top US infectious disease specialist Dr. Anthony Fauci on the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic and plans for future pandemics this week.
The hearing is part of the GOP-led investigation into the Trump administration’s handling of the crisis, and Republicans are expected to focus on the intelligence community’s assessment of the virus’ origin. They also want details on the federal government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including potential medical countermeasures and vaccine effectiveness.
Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) has indicated that he plans on questioning Fauci about the Biden administration’s plans to invest more than $1 trillion in response to the coronavirus pandemic. He will also press Fauci about the federal government’s role in “funding questionable international research projects that could have bred more dangerous viruses”.
In addition, Republicans are expected to probe Fauci about the future prospects of pandemics, and support for a World Health Organization that critics have accused of mishandling the virus and being too influenced by China.
Fauci, who heads the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, has served as the public face of the US response to the pandemic since it began and is widely respected as one of the world’s leading experts on infectious diseases. He has been at odds at times with former President Donald Trump over the handling of the crisis and has been praised by the Biden administration for his leadership.
