WASHINGTON, D.C. — May 6, 2025 —
Former President Donald J. Trump has signed a sweeping executive order banning all U.S. federal funding for “dangerous” gain-of-function research in China, Iran, and other foreign nations. The move is aimed at preventing taxpayer dollars from supporting experiments that could lead to another global pandemic.
“We will never again allow American tax dollars to fund research that puts the entire world at risk,” Trump said in a public statement. “This is about protecting American lives and holding dangerous regimes accountable.”
The order prohibits the federal government from financing any foreign laboratory engaged in gain-of-function research — a controversial field that involves enhancing viruses to study their potential to cause pandemics. The directive specifically targets countries considered adversaries or lacking biosafety standards, including China and Iran.
Key Points of the Executive Order:
- Immediate halt on federal grants or contracts to any foreign institution conducting gain-of-function research.
- Audit of past funding from 2015 to present related to foreign virology research.
- Stricter vetting for future domestic research projects involving pandemic-level pathogens.
- Focus on biosecurity and national sovereignty in science funding.
The move follows ongoing scrutiny of the origins of COVID-19 and concerns over the Wuhan Institute of Virology’s ties to U.S. funding through health agencies.
Supporters of the executive order argue it reinforces national security and scientific accountability. Critics, however, warn that it may disrupt international research collaborations and isolate the U.S. from global health advancements.
The White House stated that the executive order is part of a broader biosecurity strategy being rolled out in the coming months.