ODNI Director Tulsi Gabbard released declassified information asserting evidence of U.S. taxpayer funding for more than 120 biolabs across over 30 countries. The ODNI release claims the Intelligence Community previously warned about a U.S.-funded lab in Ukraine being vulnerable to risks related to the Russia-Ukraine war. The disclosure alleges that some biolabs have conducted work involving hazardous pathogens, with “in some cases” references to gain-of-function research, and says the evidence was withheld from the public. It also cites an executive action (EO 14292) described as ending federal funding for gain-of-function research. While the release centers on national security oversight and transparency, it also immediately lands in the biotech policy arena by raising questions about pathogen work visibility, governance, and international laboratory funding structures.
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