Trump Signs Executive Order on Gain-of-Function Research
On Monday, May 5, 2025, President Donald Trump announced a significant executive order aimed at curbing federal funding for certain research projects, particularly those associated with COVID-19. The White House claims this move positions the president as a key figure in the ongoing pandemic response.
This order comes amidst concerns about biosecurity threats, referencing past incidents where experiments, like those involving highly infectious H5N1 strains in the early 2010s, could potentially lead to another global health crisis. Trump’s directive highlights the urgent need to address risks posed by gain-of-function research, which involves altering organisms in ways that enhance the biological capabilities of genetic material.
According to the White House, “Lab-related cases, including gain-of-function research, are most likely to be the origin of Covid-19.” The recent website launched by the administration offers insights into these assertions, stressing flaws in the existing systems for monitoring such research.
The executive order aims to “terminate current and all future federal funding for research into dangerous gains of function in countries of concern, such as China and Iran.” It also points out the lack of effective oversight that has historically plagued this type of research.
Dr. Anthony Fauci had previously allocated over $1.4 million to the Wuhan Institute of Virology from 2014 to 2021. Nevertheless, the Trump administration is making strides to reshape funding policies, reducing international aid and revising many USAID contracts.
The order also explicitly prohibits federal funds from supporting foreign research that poses a risk of sparking another pandemic. This includes past work related to bat coronaviruses, which some believe may have led to COVID-19 and other viral outbreaks.
The White House reassured that while the executive order aims to safeguard Americans from dangerous virus manipulation, it does not hinder essential biological research that prepares the country for biological threats and supports leadership in health research.
The National Science and Technology Policy, collaborating with U.S. national security advisors, is set to establish new safety standards for conducting research safely.
