Trump'sMove to Halt Risky Germ Research: An Executive Decree
Trump prohibits contentious studies on ailment-inducing entities via executive order - Trump imposes ban on contentious studies involving pathogens via executive order
President Donald Trump has taken a stand on a contentious issue, announcing a new decree to curb the controversial practice of gain-of-function (GOF) research. Known for his bold moves, the President aims this recent decree at the specific area of research that modifies pathogens to increase their transmissibility, deadliness, or resistance to medical countermeasures.
"This is a step to minimize any future potential catastrophes," stated Health Minister Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on the popular online platform X, citing fears over unintended leaks that could endanger humanity. "Every nation involved in this research risks its own population and the world, as we've seen in the Covid pandemic," added Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Jay Bhattacharya.
Questions surround the origin of the coronavirus, with the scientific community divided between those believing it originated from animals in China and those who suspect it may have been genetically modified and escaped from a lab in Wuhan, where the first human infections occurred. Tensions around this issue further escalated when a 2023 U.S. intelligence report suggested the virus' development was, in part, the result of GOF research.
The United States has its fair share of controversy surrounding GOF research, with the NIH facing criticism during debates about the origin of COVID-19. Some Republican politicians accused the organization of funding such research on coronaviruses at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, a claim the NIH vehemently denied.
The order issued by President Trump aims to put an end to these debates by enforcing stricter regulations on GOF research. The move is likely driven by public concerns and criticisms of the NIH's handling of grants related to GOF research in the past.
- Donald Trump
- Decree
- U.S. Gain-of-Function Research Restriction
- USA
- President's Order
- Coronavirus
- Virus
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
- Health Concerns
- Wuhan
In depth:
On May 5, 2025, President Trump's executive order put the brakes on GOF research, focusing on coronaviruses. The gist of the decree includes:
- Funding Cuts: The order halts federal funding for GOF research carried out abroad, especially in countries with questionable oversight, such as China and Iran, to prevent the misuse of U.S. funds for high-risk research with biosecurity risks.
- Increased Oversight: The order calls for stronger oversight and transparency in research with infectious pathogens and toxins, empowering agencies like the NIH to safeguard public health and national security.
- Pause on Domestic Research: The order temporarily halts research involving infectious pathogens and toxins in the United States to ensure that domestic practices align with heightened biosecurity standards.
- Public Scrutiny: The decision mirrors the growing concern and debate over the origins of COVID-19, as well as the potential risks associated with GOF research, with many U.S. intelligence agencies supporting the theory that COVID-19 may have originated from a laboratory leak.
- Addressing NIH Criticisms: With various criticisms of the NIH's handling of grants related to GOF research, especially those involving the Wuhan Institute of Virology, the President’s order seeks to establish stricter regulations and reduce the potential for future controversies.
- Donald Trump, the US President, recently issued a decree to restrict gain-of-function research, specifically targeting the modification of pathogens in the US and abroad.
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr., citing health concerns, supports Trump's decree, fearing that unintended leaks in research could endanger humanity, as seen in the Covid pandemic's origin in Wuhan.
