Critics torched retired National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Dr. Anthony Fauci on Sunday after it was revealed that he was charging up to $100,000 for speaking engagements, Fox News Digital reported.
Fauci, who was formerly the highest-paid federal government employee, was charging from $50,000 to $100,000 to be a "motivational" and "healthcare" keynote speaker, according to a screenshot from the Leading Motivational Speakers' website shared by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' rapid response director, Christina Pushaw, over the weekend.
In response to Pushaw's post, critics slammed Fauci for the excessive speaker fees.
Substack writer Jordan Schachtel responded on Twitter, "Follow The Science Starting at 50k an hour."
NewsBusters Executive Editor Tim Graham replied, "Gotta replace the 400K federal salary..."
A Freedom of Information Act request revealed that in 2019, Fauci made more than $417,000. In 2017 and 2018, he earned over $384,000.
According to Forbes, the retired NIAID director made $3.6 million between 2010 and 2019. OpenTheBooks, a watchdog group, told Fox News Digital that the Faucis' net worth jumped from $7.5 million in 2019 to $12.6 million in 2021 due to investment gains, awards, compensation, and royalties.
The watchdog organization estimated that Fauci's retirement pension should be approximately $414,000 per year, the Daily Caller News Foundation reported.
Leading Motivational Speakers' website has since removed Fauci's speakership listing, but an archived webpage from 2022 can still be viewed.
Fauci was described as a "public health servant" for over 50 years and "a voice of education and reason during a very alarming time in American history," referring to COVID.
"Anthony is a keynote speaker who's [sic] career warrants execution under immense pressure that can alter the course of human existence," the website stated. "His work on domestic as well as global health issues has saved millions of lives. This high level of research, discovery and execution is amazing given the grave challenges he faces on a daily basis."
A November 2020 archived version of the webpage listed Fauci's motivational speaker fee as between $25,000 and $50,000. Sometime after late 2020 and before the summer of 2021, the price tag increased to between $50,000 and $100,000, and the speaking topic "healthcare" was added.
Fox News Digital reported that Fauci is scheduled to give a commencement speech in May at Yale Medical School. In 2022, Fauci spoke during commencement ceremonies at the University of Maryland, Roger Williams University in Rhode Island, and the City College of New York.
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