A clerk (foreground) tallies votes during a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee business meeting to consider pending calendar business on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on August 6, 2026. A Republican-led US Senate panel on Thursday voted to hold the country's former top infectious disease official Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress, in an escalation of efforts to blame him for potential pandemic missteps. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP via Getty Images)

Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Senator Rand Paul (2L) speaks with Senator Richard Blumenthal (R), Democrat of Connecticut during a Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs business meeting to consider pending calendar business on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on August 6, 2026. The committee is scheduled to vote on whether to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci, who led the US response to the COVID-19 pandemic, in contempt of Congress. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP via Getty Images)

Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Senator Rand Paul (2L) speaks with Senator Richard Blumenthal (C), Democrat of Connecticut during a Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs business meeting to consider pending calendar business on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on August 6, 2026. Also pictured, Ranking member Senator Gary Peters (R), Democrat from Michigan. The committee is scheduled to vote on whether to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci, who led the US response to the COVID-19 pandemic, in contempt of Congress. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP via Getty Images)

Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Senator Rand Paul is displayed on a TV screen as he speaks during a Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs business meeting to consider pending calendar business on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on August 6, 2026. The committee is scheduled to vote on whether to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci, who led the US response to the COVID-19 pandemic, in contempt of Congress. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP via Getty Images)

US Senator Josh Hawley (R), Republican of Missouri listens as US Senator Bernie Moreno (L), Republican of Ohio speaks during a Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs business meeting to consider pending calendar business on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on August 6, 2026. The committee is scheduled to vote on whether to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci, who led the US response to the COVID-19 pandemic, in contempt of Congress. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP via Getty Images)

Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Senator Rand Paul (C) speaks during a Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs business meeting to consider pending calendar business on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on August 6, 2026. The committee is scheduled to vote on whether to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci, who led the US response to the COVID-19 pandemic, in contempt of Congress. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP via Getty Images)

(L-R) Senator Maggie Hassan, Democrat from New Hampshire and Senator Richard Blumenthal, Democrat of Connecticut confer during a Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs business meeting to consider pending calendar business on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on August 6, 2026. The committee is scheduled to vote on whether to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci, who led the US response to the COVID-19 pandemic, in contempt of Congress. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP via Getty Images)

US Senator Josh Hawley, Republican of Missouri speaks during a Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs business meeting to consider pending calendar business on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on August 6, 2026. The committee is scheduled to vote on whether to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci, who led the US response to the COVID-19 pandemic, in contempt of Congress. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP via Getty Images)