A museum exhibit honoring Dr. Anthony Fauci has been shut down after the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) flagged it as a stunning example of reckless spending. The $170,000 project was intended for the National Museum of Health and Medicine, but it will no longer be funded after a sweeping review of unnecessary government contracts.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) had originally planned for the exhibit to be completed by July 2025. However, after DOGE identified the spending as wasteful, it was eliminated alongside 62 other contracts, bringing the total cuts to $182 million. None of the eliminated contracts affected healthcare programs, according to officials.
DOGE, led by Elon Musk, has been aggressively targeting wasteful federal spending. Musk took to his social media platform to express disbelief that taxpayer money had been allocated to a Fauci tribute, calling it an insult to Americans. His agency has already uncovered billions in potential savings across multiple government departments.
Fauci’s legacy remains highly debated. While some view him as a leading voice in public health, millions of Americans blame him for the extreme restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic. His policies led to prolonged school closures, job losses, and vaccine mandates that many saw as government overreach.
His post-government career has also drawn attention. Fauci was granted a blanket pardon by former President Joe Biden, protecting him from federal prosecution. However, that has not stopped state attorneys general from investigating his role in pandemic-related policies.
DOGE’s latest round of spending cuts demonstrates the administration’s commitment to reducing government waste. With more investigations into federal spending underway, additional projects could soon face the same fate as the now-defunct Fauci museum exhibit.
