US Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard revealed on Thursday that the United States has historically funded over 120 biological laboratories across more than 30 countries. This disclosure, supported by newly declassified documents, has prompted a major policy shift from the Trump administration.
Details of the Disclosure
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) stated that many of these facilities conducted research involving hazardous and highly contagious pathogens, including gain-of-function research, with minimal oversight. Gabbard emphasized the need to identify these labs and secure their pathogens to protect global health.
Declassified records highlight that over 40 laboratories in Ukraine were involved in handling Soviet-era biological warfare pathogens, including anthrax, Ebola, MERS, SARS, and plague. The Kherson Diagnostic Laboratory, for example, received USD 1,728,822 in funding while its permit for working with specific pathogens remained listed as "in progress."
Trump Administration Response
In response, President Donald Trump officially ended federal funding for gain-of-function research globally. Gabbard criticized previous administrations and health officials, alleging they misled the public about the existence of these US-supported biolabs. She reaffirmed the intelligence community's commitment to locating these labs and securing the pathogens within them.
Gabbard issued a formal directive to the Intelligence Community to prioritize collecting data on these overseas facilities. The increased oversight is already uncovering details regarding ongoing clinical trials at these sites, which Gabbard claimed raise significant ethical, financial, and security concerns.
