Rep. Rich McCormick advances bill targeting Anthony Fauci’s eligibility for federal work after Fifth Amendment testimony, report says

A bill introduced by Rep. Rich McCormick would create a lifetime restriction preventing Anthony Fauci from working for the federal government, according to reporting from Fox News on the measure and its stated rationale. The report ties the proposal to Fauci’s congressional testimony and the constitutional issues raised during his appearance before lawmakers.

Fox News reports that the bill’s basis is Fauci’s use of the Fifth Amendment during testimony described by the outlet as repeatedly invoking the privilege, including during questioning connected to the COVID-19 response. The reporting characterizes the hearing as “explosive” and says Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment more than 100 times before Sen. Rand Paul.

The measure is framed in the reporting as an employment eligibility restriction rather than a criminal penalty, with the practical effect aimed at limiting Fauci’s ability to hold federal jobs if the bill becomes law. The report does not, in the information provided here, include the bill number, the text of the restriction, or whether the proposal is limited to certain types of federal employment roles or contractors.

The report also does not specify whether the bill is scheduled for committee consideration or has progressed through either House as of publication. In Congress, similar employment-eligibility proposals typically require passage by both chambers and signature by President Donald Trump to take effect, unless enacted as part of a broader vehicle or already moving through the legislative process.

Questions of constitutional process and due process may arise if the restriction is enacted, particularly because it would operate as a categorical employment bar tied to testimony or conduct rather than to a criminal conviction. Affected individuals could potentially challenge such restrictions in court depending on the statutory language and the enforcement mechanism used.

Under the federal government’s hiring and ethics rules, a lifetime disqualification of a particular person would be implemented through human resources screening, background checks, and agency-level compliance if the statute is enacted. The report does not provide details on the enforcement authority, exceptions, or the mechanism by which agencies would verify eligibility or determine compliance.