Don’t government employees at Fauci’s level serve at the pleasure of the president?
Can Trump fire Fauci? Technically, no
https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/13/politics/can-trump-fire-fauci/index.html
Under federal law, Trump doesn’t have the power to directly fire Fauci, a career civil servant, and remove him from government. And while Trump could try ordering his political appointees to dismiss the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Fauci could appeal – a time-consuming process.
Not to mention what a bone headed move it would have been to try with the country in a panic already. Trump sidelined Fauci, brought in other people and refused to mandate. That was the prudent way to handle the situation.
Yes. Even at the pleasure of the Secretary of a department.