1. United States
2. Kan.
3. Letter

We have numerous issues that need to be addressed. But instead, a Senate committee voted to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress after he invoked his Fifth Amendment right and declined to answer questions during a hearing. The vote does not mean he has been convicted of a crime, but it escalates an already highly political investigation. You can disagree with Dr. Fauci’s decisions. You can criticize his recommendations. You can believe mistakes were made during the pandemic. However, turning one of the nation’s most accomplished physician-scientists into the central focus of political theater doesn’t help us prepare for the next public health crisis. If this is the message we send to scientists who enter public service (that years later they may become the target of partisan spectacle) fewer talented people may be willing to serve. We should examine what happened during the pandemic, learn from our mistakes, and improve our institutions. Accountability matters and so does protecting the integrity of science and ensuring the next generation of experts is willing to step forward when the country needs them. This is not the right way.