Overview

• The order ends all current and future federal funding for gain-of-function research in countries like China and Iran, citing insufficient oversight.
• The White House asserts that a lab-related incident involving gain-of-function research is the most likely origin of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Domestic research involving infectious pathogens and toxins is paused until new safety standards and enforcement mechanisms are established.
• The policy exempts essential biological research aimed at pandemic preparedness and maintaining U.S. leadership in biotechnology and health.
• The directive follows scrutiny of past U.S. funding for gain-of-function research, including over $1.4 million directed to the Wuhan Institute of Virology through federal agencies.