Kathrine Frich
Trump’s order slams the brakes on U.S. support for such experiments conducted abroad.
Trump’s order slams the brakes on U.S. support for such experiments conducted abroad.
President Donald Trump has halted all U.S. federal funding for high-risk virus research in countries considered adversarial or poorly regulated, most notably China.
The directive is a direct response to rising suspicions that COVID-19 originated from a lab accident in Wuhan.
Five Years After COVID, the Crackdown Begins
Five years after the outbreak that reshaped the world, Trump’s return to the White House has brought with it renewed scrutiny of pandemic origins.
His administration has declared an all-out halt on funding for gain-of-function research in countries like China and Iran, citing national security and public health risks.
What Is Gain-of-Function Research?
Gain-of-function research involves manipulating viruses to better understand how they might evolve.
Critics warn it can create more dangerous pathogens and, if mishandled, trigger outbreaks.
Trump’s order slams the brakes on U.S. support for such experiments conducted abroad under lax oversight.
NIH and Agencies Now Empowered to Cut Grants
Under the new directive, agencies like the National Institutes of Health must identify and revoke grants tied to biological research considered unsafe or a threat to national security.
It signals a dramatic shift in how the U.S. government handles cross-border science funding.
U.S. Funding Traced to Wuhan Lab
Between 2014 and 2021, over $1.4 million in U.S. grants were funneled to China’s Wuhan Institute of Virology via EcoHealth Alliance.
That partnership has become a lightning rod for criticism as suspicion lingers over whether those funds helped enable risky coronavirus experiments.
DEFUSE Proposal and the “Smoking Gun” Debate
EcoHealth’s 2018 Project DEFUSE proposal, which aimed to enhance bat coronaviruses, never received funding, but it remains a focal point for critics who claim it proves the lab-leak theory.
Oddly, the proposal was omitted from a major U.S. intelligence report, prompting fresh questions.
Biden’s Restrictions vs. Trump’s Ban
Trump’s executive order sharply contrasts with President Biden’s 2022 attempt at regulation, which allowed certain loopholes.
Trump’s version is immediate and sweeping, freezing all pathogen research abroad until tighter biosecurity rules are drafted by the White House.
Whistleblowers Say Warnings Were Ignored
New allegations from Defense Department insiders suggest key warnings about Wuhan’s lab safety were omitted from President Biden’s briefings.
Some claim damning evidence, including from the FBI, was never shared with top intelligence officials, deepening the controversy.
Fauci and Daszak Defend the Science
Dr. Anthony Fauci and EcoHealth President Peter Daszak have both denied any wrongdoing and dismissed the lab-leak theory as conspiracy.
But during a 2023 Congressional hearing, Daszak admitted Chinese lab safety was “not at U.S. standards”, and that he downplayed Wuhan’s role.