Dr. Anthony Fauci on Monday said in a statement that he plans to step down in December from the positions of director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and chief medical adviser to President Joe Biden. Fauci, 81, said he’s “not retiring,” but rather plans to “pursue the next phase of my career while I still have so much energy and passion for my field.” He said a month ago that he was “very likely” to retire by the end of Biden’s first term. Biden praised Fauci in a separate statement: “I extend my deepest thanks for his public service. The United States of America is stronger, more resilient, and healthier because of him.”
