More than 155 scientists, physicians, and public health advocates have issued an open letter calling for an end to what they describe as the "vilification and harassment of many American scientists" by the Trump administration and its allies. The letter was published on July 28, 2026, one day before Anthony Fauci, the former top US government science adviser, was scheduled to testify before the Republican-controlled Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

Fauci, 85, who served as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (Niaid) for 38 years until his departure in 2022, played a key role in guiding the US response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Senate committee, chaired by Senator Rand Paul, a Republican from Kentucky, subpoenaed Fauci to testify as part of an investigation into the origins of the virus and allegations that federal officials misled the public and Congress about the outbreak's source.

The letter dismisses the allegations against Fauci as "baseless," rejecting claims that he covered up Covid origins, bribed other scientists, that Niaid-funded research sparked the pandemic, or that he holds patents on the virus. It states, "No credible evidence has been produced to support these absurd charges."

Signatories argue that Fauci has been the "most prominent target" of the administration and its congressional allies, who they accuse of "waging a war on individual scientists, through public harassment, arrests, criminal indictment and ongoing threats of prosecution."

Ahead of the hearing, Senator Paul released thousands of pages of Fauci’s diary entries from the Covid-19 pandemic, revealing Fauci’s efforts to manage the crisis, his interactions with former President Donald Trump, and reflections on his public image.

Fauci has stated that research strongly suggests the coronavirus emerged through natural origins, likely animal-to-human transmission, but maintains an open mind about other possibilities, including a lab leak theory. He has denied allegations that he sought to suppress alternative theories.

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