Overview

• President Trump's executive order bans federal funding for gain-of-function research in 'countries of concern,' including China and Iran, citing insufficient oversight.
• Domestic pathogen research is paused until new, stricter biosafety policies are implemented to prevent potential lab-related risks.
• The Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) is tasked with centralizing oversight and enforcement, aiming to close previous regulatory loopholes.
• Violators of the funding ban face penalties, including a suspension of federal grants for up to five years.
• Critics warn the measures could hinder pandemic preparedness, while supporters argue they are essential to preventing catastrophic lab leaks.