DNI Gabbard reveals US funding for global biolabs; Trump moves to end gain-of-function research
Washington DC, June 12
US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard on Thursday disclosed that the United States has historically provided funding for more than 120 biological laboratories across over 30 countries.
The revelation, supported by newly declassified documents, has prompted a major policy shift from the Trump administration.
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) statement indicated that many of these facilities have engaged in research involving hazardous and highly contagious pathogens, including "Gain-of-Function" research, with what the DNI described as minimal oversight.
"ODNI will continue to work closely with partners across the government to identify where these labs are, what pathogens they contain, to end dangerous Gain-of-Function research that threatens the health and well-being of the American people and people around the world," Gabbard stated.
Declassified records highlight that over 40 laboratories in Ukraine were involved in handling Soviet-era biological warfare pathogens. These facilities reportedly conducted research on Especially Dangerous Pathogens (EDPs), including anthrax, Ebola, MERS, SARS, and the plague.
"Despite the obvious potential for catastrophic global impact research on dangerous pathogens in biolabs can have, politicians, so-called health professionals like Dr Fauci, and entities within the Biden administration's national security team lied to the American people about the existence of US-funded and supported biolabs, and threatened those who attempted to expose the truth," Gabbard said.
The report cited instances such as the Kherson Diagnostic Laboratory, which received USD 1,728,822 in funding while its permit for working with specific pathogens remained listed as "in progress."
In response to these findings, President Donald Trump has officially ended federal funding for Gain-of-Function research globally.
DNI Gabbard criticised previous administrations and health officials, alleging that they misled the public regarding the existence of these US-supported biolabs. She reaffirmed the intelligence community's commitment to locating these labs and securing the pathogens within them to mitigate risks to global health.
DNI Gabbard issued a formal directive to the Intelligence Community to prioritise the collection of data on these overseas facilities. The statement noted that this increased oversight is already uncovering details regarding ongoing clinical trials at these sites, which Gabbard claimed raise "significant ethical, financial, and security concerns."
— ANI
Reader Comments
I'm skeptical about Trump ending gain-of-function research - it sounds good on paper but who knows if it'll actually stick? The real issue is transparency. We in India have seen how pandemics can ravage a country. We need global accountability, not just US policy shifts. 🌏
As a scientist, I have mixed feelings. Gain-of-function research has legitimate uses for understanding disease transmission, but the lack of oversight is terrifying. Those labs in Ukraine handling Soviet-era pathogens? That's a biosecurity nightmare. India needs to ensure our own BSL-4 labs have proper checks. 🔬
Maa kasam, this is scary. 😰 If these labs were in India, we'd be furious. The fact that WHO and other bodies didn't push for transparency earlier is worrying. Trump ending funding is a step, but what about the labs already operating? Gabbard needs to go further and name names.
I appreciate Gabbard's honesty, but let's not pretend the US is the only culprit. India needs to audit any foreign collaborations in our biotech sector. The pandemic showed us how quickly things can go wrong. Better safe than sorry, yaar. 🙏
This is a classic case of 'do as I say, not as I do'. US spending millions on biolabs abroad while preaching non-proliferation? 🙄 India should demand answers through diplomatic channels. And honestly, Fauci and Biden team lying about this is not surprising.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.