President Donald Trump issued an executive order on Monday aimed at revising guidance from researchers and agencies to stop federal funding for foreign research that could lead to a new pandemic-related virus.
The order instructs various institutions to update their protocols, specifically banning federal funding for research into pathogens conducted by countries like North Korea, Iran, Russia, and China, as stated by the White House. This measure was set to take effect on Tuesday and is intended to replace existing restrictions on U.S. funding for similar foreign research. Recently, the NIH announced its own withdrawal from foreign ventures.
According to the Daily Caller News Foundation, a more stringent executive order may soon emerge, which could legally prohibit gain-of-function research both domestically and internationally. This latest order was refined by biosecurity specialist Jerry Parker, who leads the Office of Pandemic Preparedness and Response Policy within the National Security Council. Interestingly, Parker did not consult many officials, including those at NIH, who typically oversee regulations in this area.
The new executive order calls on a wide array of agencies to draft updated guidance, including the Science and Technology Policy Office, the Office of Management and Budget, and the Department of Health and Human Services, among others.
The White House has not responded to inquiries for further comments.
In the order, it asserts that U.S. policy aims to ensure that federal research funding benefits U.S. citizens while safeguarding national security. It also mentions that the administration seeks to balance preparedness for biological threats with global leadership in biotechnology, biosecurity, and health research.
The executive order broadens the scope of experiments it covers and defines “dangerous gain-of-function research” as studies that increase a pathogen’s ability to cause disease. Additionally, it introduces more enforcement strategies, such as cutting off federal funding and instituting a five-year ban for violators. Researchers must also inform funding agencies of any gain-of-function work, regardless of funding status, though there are no criminal penalties for noncompliance.
NIH’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, which has been led for nearly four decades by Anthony Fauci, is tasked with overseeing high-risk research on infectious agents of public concern. Previously, the Pandemic Potential Pathogens Committee (P3CO) played a crucial role in determining if the benefits of certain research outweighed the risks, but the related processes have often been kept hidden from public view.
Back in 2014, the White House enacted a moratorium on gain-of-function research, following various biosafety incidents. When this moratorium was lifted, the P3CO process was put into place. However, despite a lack of oversight, gain-of-function research related to the novel coronavirus continued at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Under questioning, Fauci stated this was not a gain-of-function study.
Earlier this year, President Biden granted Fauci a complete pardon regarding actions taken back to 2014 when the moratorium was issued. Additionally, EcoHealth Alliance, which managed NIAID funds at the Wuhan lab, has been barred from federal funding for five years due to insufficient monitoring and lack of cooperation in investigations.
Going forward, National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard mentioned that her office will collaborate with the NIH to identify high-risk coronavirus studies potentially linked to the pandemic’s origins.
NIH’s advisory committees are recommending tighter regulations for high-risk virology, both domestically and internationally. Meanwhile, the NIH’s largest security lab at Fort Detrick has paused research due to personnel issues affecting biosafety.
Communications Director Andrew G. Nixon from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services indicated that the temporary shutdown stemmed from safety concerns arising from the improper use of protective equipment.
Advancements in biotechnology, including gene sequencing and editing, have raised alarms about the potential for creating pandemic threats through experimental procedures.
