Senator Josh Hawley introduced legislation on Thursday aimed at prohibiting federal employees from accepting cash prizes, following accusations that a senior health official received substantial monetary awards during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The proposed No Cash Prizes for Bureaucrats Act seeks to close loopholes that currently allow government workers to solicit or receive cash awards, extending restrictions to recognitions in medicine and research.
Hawley cited public records indicating that Dr. Anthony Fauci, while serving as director of the National Institutes of Health, directed staff to secure at least eight cash awards, one of which reportedly totaled $900,000.
The bill would also strengthen existing regulations that prevent NIH officials and their subordinates from using official duty time to pursue such rewards.
During a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing, Hawley confronted the health official about the alleged use of federal resources to obtain the awards, noting that the official invoked the Fifth Amendment repeatedly.
Hawley presented internal communications, including an email from a former chief of staff referencing a nomination for the Dan David Prize, a $900,000 cash award, and requesting staff assistance to enhance the COVID-19 portion of the nomination.
Additional alleged awards cited include honors from the Partnership for Public Service, the Adelson Prize, the Smithsonian Institution, the National Academy of Medicine, and the CDC Foundation, which Hawley says were pursued with staff involvement.
The legislation aims to prevent future instances where federal employees could leverage taxpayer-funded positions for personal financial gain, ensuring public service remains free from such conflicts of interest.
