Senate Homeland Security Chairman Rand Paul (R-KY) has subpoenaed Dr. Anthony Fauci, the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, escalating a yearslong battle over the federal government’s handling of the COVID pandemic and the origins of the virus. Paul announced Monday that he issued the subpoena after Fauci allegedly backed out of an agreement to voluntarily appear before the committee. “Last week, Anthony Fauci notified us he will NOT voluntarily testify before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, even though he had previously agreed to do so,” Paul wrote on X. “Therefore, today I have issued a subpoena requiring him to testify before the Committee, in public, next month.” The subpoena is the first issued by Paul since taking over as chairman of the committee, which granted its chairman unilateral subpoena authority last year. Speaking to Semafor, Paul said months of negotiations with Fauci ultimately broke down after the former public health official agreed to appear and then reversed course. “He’s been slow-walking information to us for six months or more,” Paul said. “We’ve been negotiating over the date for several months. He agreed, then he said he wouldn’t. So, I think it’s time that we bring him in.” Paul indicated that lawmakers intend to question Fauci about several issues, including his presidential pardon, allegations regarding federally funded gain-of-function research, and accusations that records related to the government’s pandemic response were destroyed. “I think there’s a lot to discuss,” Paul said. The subpoena marks the latest chapter in one of Washington’s most contentious post-pandemic rivalries. Throughout the post-COVID era, Paul repeatedly sparred with Fauci during Senate hearings, accusing him of misleading Congress about U.S.-funded research connected to the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China. Fauci consistently denied claims that the National Institutes of Health funded gain-of-function research that could have created the virus responsible for the pandemic. As evidence supporting the lab leak theory gained credibility in recent years, Paul intensified his criticism, arguing that Fauci and other public health officials worked to dismiss legitimate questions about the virus’ origins. The Kentucky senator has previously called for Fauci to face criminal charges, alleging that he lied to Congress under oath regarding gain-of-function research funding. “We’ve been negotiating with him for material and for testimony. This has gone on for some time,” Paul said during a Tuesday interview. “He slow walked us and slow walked us. Finally agreed to come in voluntarily … then last week he says he’s not coming in.” “With this subpoena power, we will bring him in, unless he fights this in court,” Paul added. The move comes as congressional Republicans continue investigating the origins of COVID-19 and the federal government’s pandemic response, issues that remain politically potent years after lockdowns, vaccine mandates, school closures, and other emergency measures reshaped American life. Fauci has not yet publicly responded to the subpoena. If he declines to comply, the dispute could trigger a legal battle testing the scope of Congress’ oversight authority and Paul’s new subpoena powers as committee chairman.