President Donald Trump took significant action on Monday by signing an executive order aimed at halting federal funding for gain-of-function research. This controversial practice has been linked to the debate over the origins of COVID-19, particularly regarding its connections to research conducted in China.
Trump made the announcement in the Oval Office, surrounded by key figures like Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and National Institutes of Health Director Jay Bhattacharya. He emphasized the importance of this move, suggesting that earlier action could have potentially prevented the pandemic that emerged during his first term.
The executive order specifically targets “dangerous” gain-of-function research in countries like China and Iran, which are deemed to have inadequate oversight. This type of research involves enhancing viruses to study their effects, which has raised concerns about public health and national security. The order reflects growing scrutiny over the lab leak theory, which posits that the COVID-19 virus may have originated from a laboratory incident.
Last year, the federal government suspended funding to EcoHealth Alliance, a nonprofit under scrutiny for its work with a lab in Wuhan, China, where the virus is believed to have first emerged. This action aligns with Trump’s broader efforts to reassess U.S. funding for research that could pose risks.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, a prominent figure in the pandemic response, previously denied under oath that NIH funds were used for gain-of-function research in Wuhan. However, this claim has been met with skepticism from some lawmakers, including Senator Rand Paul, who accused Fauci of misleading Congress.
While President Joe Biden issued a pardon for Fauci before leaving office, Trump’s administration is not done addressing the issue. Tulsi Gabbard, the Director of National Intelligence, has indicated that her team is collaborating with Bhattacharya to provide more information on gain-of-function research and its links to COVID-19.
Trump’s order also calls for stricter oversight and transparency for federally funded life-science research. It seeks to establish regulations for non-federally funded research to prevent potential misuse.
Kennedy criticized Fauci’s approach, claiming it reignited a dangerous arms race in biological research under the guise of vaccine development. He applauded Trump’s decision to end such research in the U.S. and stop funding it abroad.
This executive order marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing conversation about the safety and ethics of scientific research, especially as it relates to public health crises like the COVID-19 pandemic.