It's clear that what he and other scientists said about masks early in the pandemic certainly changed over time. I think science is like that. People who like simple, certain, unchanging answers can get them from religion or ideology. People who don't mind complexity, nuance, and change are more comfortable with science.
Assuming Fauci was lying because what he said then isn't what he is saying now just isn't logical.
He literally explained his reasons for lying.
Fauci admits to lying about masks and explains why: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLXttHlUgK8
Fauci admits to moving the goalposts on vaccination rates and explains it's because of his "gut feeling that the country is finally ready to hear what he really thinks": https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/24/health/herd-immunity-covi...
> It's clear that what he and other scientists said about masks early in the pandemic certainly changed over time.
This isn't about that, this is about literal deception from a public health figure about public health.
It's also not the only lie he's told and admitted to. See his claims about herd immunity, where the numbers kept going up, and when he was questioned on this, he outright said he just gave out numbers that he thought the public would accept at the time.