Fauci says he'll step down as NIAID head by end of Biden's term

• He was also one of the leads of the White House coronavirus task force under former President Trump.

Is Fauci retiring or stepping down?

State of play: NIAID told Axios that Fauci has indicated that he does not plan to stay on past this term, which ends Jan. 20, 2025.

• Fauci said in an event with The Hill that he does not plan to retire: "I’m not going to retire. No, no, I’m not going to retire. I may step down from my current position at some time."
• He clarified that he was asked if he planned to work for the federal government if Trump won the 2024 election, and added, "I said a very innocent but true thing. I said whether it’s Donald Trump or it’s Joe Biden’s second term, I don’t intend to be in my current position in January of 2025."

What he's saying: On the Politico interview, Fauci commented on the idea that he would retire after the COVID-19 pandemic is over, saying, "I think we’re going to be living with this."

• "We're in a pattern now. If somebody says, 'You'll leave when we don’t have COVID anymore,' then I will be 105," he told Politico.

Editor's note: This article has been updated with additional comments from Fauci.