Trump Signs Executive Order Banning Federal Funding for Risky Gain-of-Function Research

Former President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday, taking aim at gain-of-function research and its potential role in sparking pandemics. The order specifically bans all federal funding for dangerous gain-of-function research in China, Iran, and other countries deemed to have insufficient oversight. The order further blocks all federal funding for any foreign research that could potentially cause another pandemic, marking a significant shift in the U.S. government’s approach to biosecurity and research funding.

The signing of the executive order, which took place Monday afternoon, was framed as a measure to improve the safety and security of biological research both within the United States and across the globe. The White House emphasized that the order is designed to drastically reduce the potential for lab-related incidents, particularly those involving gain-of-function research similar to that conducted on bat coronaviruses in China. This research was notably carried out by the EcoHealth Alliance and the Wuhan Institute of Virology, raising concerns about the potential for accidental leaks and subsequent outbreaks.

Gain-of-function research, which typically involves modifying a virus to make it more infectious among humans, has been a subject of intense debate and scrutiny. Critics argue that the potential benefits of this type of research, such as developing vaccines and treatments for emerging diseases, are outweighed by the risks of creating more dangerous and transmissible pathogens.

The White House explicitly stated that the executive order aims to protect Americans from lab accidents and other biosecurity incidents, citing the COVID-19 pandemic and the 1977 Russian flu as examples of potential consequences of inadequate oversight and safety protocols.

The core of the order lies in its prohibition of current and future federal funding for gain-of-function research in countries with insufficient oversight. Additionally, it grants U.S. research agencies the authority to identify and terminate federal funding for any other biological research that could pose a threat to American public health, public safety, or national security. This provision expands the scope of the order beyond gain-of-function research, giving agencies broader discretion to assess and mitigate potential risks associated with various types of biological research.

The White House issued a fact sheet alongside the executive order, highlighting what it described as decades of inadequate enforcement, transparency, and top-down oversight of policies governing gain-of-function research on pathogens, toxins, and potential pathogens. The fact sheet further asserted that researchers have not adequately acknowledged the potential for societal harms that this kind of research poses. This underscored the administration’s belief that a more cautious and restrictive approach to gain-of-function research was necessary.

According to the White House, the order is specifically designed to protect Americans from dangerous gain-of-function research that manipulates viruses and other biological agents and toxins. However, the order is not intended to hinder productive biological research that contributes to U.S. readiness against biological threats and sustains global leadership in biotechnology, biosecurity, and health research. This suggests that the administration sought to strike a balance between mitigating risks and promoting scientific progress in areas deemed crucial for national security and public health.

The executive order is rooted in former President Trump’s long-held theory that COVID-19 originated from a lab leak at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Throughout his presidency, Trump consistently advocated for transparency in investigating the origins of the virus. The order can be seen as a culmination of these efforts, reflecting the administration’s commitment to addressing perceived shortcomings in global biosecurity and research oversight.

The order directly addresses the controversy surrounding the EcoHealth Alliance, an organization that received federal funding for research involving bat coronaviruses at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Critics have pointed to this funding as evidence of U.S. taxpayer dollars supporting potentially dangerous research in a foreign country with questionable safety practices.

The executive order is likely to have a significant impact on the landscape of biological research funding, particularly for projects involving international collaborations and gain-of-function experiments. Researchers and institutions that rely on federal funding will need to carefully review their projects and ensure compliance with the new restrictions. The order could also lead to increased scrutiny of research proposals and stricter enforcement of existing regulations.

The long-term consequences of the order remain to be seen. Supporters argue that it will help to prevent future pandemics by reducing the risk of lab accidents and ensuring greater accountability in biological research. Critics, on the other hand, express concerns that it could stifle scientific innovation and hinder efforts to develop effective countermeasures against emerging infectious diseases. The order is likely to spark further debate about the ethical and practical considerations of gain-of-function research and the role of government oversight in regulating scientific inquiry. The impact on the global research community will undoubtedly be significant, potentially leading to a restructuring of international collaborations and a shift in research priorities.