Dr. Fauci Warned About Coronaviruses in 2003—But Didn’t Act On It

Dr. Anthony Fauci is seen at a hearing at the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington on July 20, 2021. Stefani Reynolds/Pool via Reuters

Commentary

Few would argue the United States, or any country for that matter, was prepared for the COVID-19 pandemic, even though, starting in 2003, the U.S. devoted $5.6 billion to fund Project Bioshield, running through 2013, and another $2.8 billion of funding through 2018. Project Bioshield was designed to prepare the United States against a bio attack, including provisions for the stockpiling and distribution of vaccines.