Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the renowned infectious-disease expert, has agreed to testify in front of the House Oversight select subcommittee on the coronavirus pandemic on June 3. This will be the first time since leaving government nearly 1½ years ago that Fauci will publicly face Congress. Lawmakers are expected to press him on various issues, including the origins of the pandemic and the government's vaccine mandates, which have remained politically divisive.

The GOP-led panel, which includes some of Fauci's most persistent critics in Congress, such as Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-La.) and Ronny Jackson (R-Tex.), has repeatedly alleged that the pandemic originated from a lab accident in China funded by Fauci's agency and covered up by U.S. officials. Chairing the panel, Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-Ohio) emphasized the importance of holding Fauci accountable to the American people and called for transparency on his role in overseeing the nation's pandemic response.

Fauci, who led the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for nearly 40 years, denies any wrongdoing, and public health leaders have praised his work, criticizing the targeted attacks from Republicans. The ongoing debate about the origins of the SARS-CoV-2 virus continues, with some scientists suggesting a lab leak while others believe it originated from infected animals. A declassified government intelligence report released last year stated that U.S. intelligence officials were unaware of a lab leak and had no evidence of the virus at the Wuhan Institute of Virology before the outbreak.

The select subcommittee's top Democrat, Rep. Raul Ruiz (Calif.), stated that no evidence has been found directly implicating Fauci and former National Institutes of Health director Francis Collins in any cover-up of the pandemic's origins. However, the hearing will address these and other related issues.

Fauci gained widespread recognition in the early days of the pandemic, regularly appearing at White House briefings and providing guidance on preventive measures. His briefings reassured many Americans, especially as they contrasted with then-President Donald Trump's controversial medical advice. President Joe Biden appointed Fauci as his chief medical adviser, and Fauci played a key role in the administration's vaccine rollout.

However, public confidence in Fauci has waned in recent months due to frustrations with pandemic-era policies and attacks from GOP lawmakers. Public opinion polls indicate a decline in trust in Fauci's recommendations on coronavirus vaccines, primarily driven by growing Republican skepticism.

Since leaving government, Fauci has joined the faculty at Georgetown University as a distinguished professor and is set to publish a memoir in June. Prior to his public testimony, Fauci privately testified in front of House lawmakers in January 2023, providing answers on his role in the pandemic response, lab experiments, and foreign research funding.

As the hearing approaches, the expectations are high, and the transcript of Fauci's private testimony is eagerly awaited. While the pandemic may have receded, Fauci continues to be invoked by Republicans as a political symbol, with some arguing that he exerted excessive control over the nation's pandemic response.

In the coming weeks, the House panel will also hear from Peter Daszak, president of EcoHealth Alliance, who will testify about the organization's research with the Wuhan Institute of Virology and its alleged connection to the emergence of SARS-CoV-2.