Fauci hints retirement may be near: 'Can't stay at this job forever'

Dr. Anthony Fauci, who has served as U.S. infectious disease chief under seven presidents and earned both accolades and scorn, hints in a new interview his retirement may be nearing as the COVID-19 pandemic appears to be waning.

"I have said that I would stay in what I'm doing until we get out of the pandemic phase and I think we might be there already, if we can stay in this," the 81-year-old Fauci told ABC News.

"I can't stay at this job forever. Unless my staff is gonna find me slumped over my desk one day. I'd rather not do that," he said, laughing

The longtime director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said he is "certainly" thinking about retirement but doesn't have any specific post-job plans except to spend more time with family.

"I, unfortunately, am somewhat of a unidimensional physician, scientist, public health person. When I do decide I'm going to step down, whenever that is, I'm going to have to figure out what it is I'm going to do," he told the network.

"I'd love to spend more time with my wife and family. That would really be good."