On Monday, President Donald Trump issued an executive order that prohibits the allocation of federal funds for research involving “dangerous” gains of function in countries like China and Iran. This move aims to prevent potentially hazardous international research that could lead to another pandemic.
The order was signed in the afternoon, with a focus on enhancing the safety and security of biological research both domestically and globally.
The White House indicated that this order “will significantly reduce the likelihood of lab-related incidents, including gain-of-function research, as observed with China’s Bat Coronavirus linked to the EcoHealth Alliance and the Wuhan Virus Institute.”
Gain-of-function research typically entails altering a virus to increase its transmissibility among humans. Notably, concerns arose over such modifications at the Wuhan Lab before the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The White House emphasized that the directive is intended to shield Americans from potential laboratory accidents and related biosecurity threats, including those that may have contributed to Covid-19 and the 1977 Russian influenza outbreak.
This executive order effectively halts any ongoing or future federal funding for gain-of-function research in countries where oversight is lacking. It also offers support to U.S. research institutions in identifying and halting any biological research that poses risks to public health, safety, or national security.
The White House remarked that “for decades, policies regulating gain-of-function research on pathogens and toxins have suffered from inadequate enforcement, transparency, and oversight. Researchers often overlook the genuine risks that this type of research can present to society.”
According to the administration, the order aims to safeguard Americans from research involving risky gain-of-function modifications while still allowing for beneficial biological research that prepares the U.S. for biological threats and maintains its leadership in bioengineering and health research.
Additionally, the White House noted that President Trump has long speculated that Covid-19 originated from a lab leak at the Wuhan Virology Institute and has consistently advocated for transparency in investigating its origins.
This is a developing story. Please check for updates.
