
President Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order that would temporarily halt federal funding for gain-of-function research, a highly controversial practice that alters viruses to make them more transmissible or lethal. According to reports, the order aims to prevent government-backed scientists from engaging in experiments that could pose significant threats to public health.
While the order is seen as a major step in addressing concerns surrounding this type of research, sources indicate that bird flu studies might be excluded from the funding freeze. This potential exemption has raised alarms, with critics questioning why such a high-risk virus would be allowed to bypass the ban.
The proposed order, which has not yet been finalized, would not extend to privately funded research. Critics argue that limiting the scope of the ban could leave loopholes for dangerous experiments to continue outside government oversight.
🚨Trump admin halts funding for gain of function research. Great move, the risk of this research is too great. They want to create a superbug, so we can study the superbug. All good, until it gets out of the lab. This, plus FDA, CDC and NIH halt all public messaging. Today on… pic.twitter.com/i91VFHsPES
— Dr Frank Contacessa (@DrFrank273) January 24, 2025
Groups such as the White Coat Waste Project have applauded Trump’s decision, pointing to past taxpayer-funded experiments that they say contributed to the COVID-19 pandemic. Justin Goodman, a senior official with the watchdog group, praised the move and highlighted ongoing efforts by lawmakers such as Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) and Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) to cut funding for these experiments.
NEW – President Trump to Halt Funding for Gain-of-Function Research
"The Trump administration is drafting an executive order that would temporarily pause federal funding for gain-of-function research … The goal of the order would be to stop scientists with U.S. funding from… pic.twitter.com/8YiJXr1RJ5
— Chief Nerd (@TheChiefNerd) January 23, 2025
https://twitter.com/saras76/status/1882428316202008633
Despite mounting evidence linking gain-of-function research to the outbreak of COVID-19, the Biden-Harris administration continued to support projects involving bird flu and other high-risk viruses. Lawmakers have accused the administration of failing to learn from past mistakes and continuing to gamble with public safety.
Of course. Disclosure has to start with stuff which is simple to believe. Most people are still tied to the story that there was a pandemic caused by a virus. They are not ready to believe they were simply psyopped by their governments and corrupt media into voluntary euthanasia!
— FélixTheBlack.Cat🇷🇺🪆🇷🇺 🐈⬛ (@FelixTheBlackC4) January 24, 2025
Finally, Gain of Function to be thrown under the bus.
ABOUT TIME!In cased you missed it, this is the research that created Covid, killed, maimed and otherwise cost us all dearly.
After starting the WHO on its path to irrelevance, President Trump to score a win for us all again https://t.co/WfP74W3Qh5
— Guillaume Ceccarelli (@GCsVentures) January 23, 2025
Adding to the controversy, former President Joe Biden issued a preemptive pardon for Dr. Anthony Fauci before leaving office, backdating it to 2014. This unprecedented move has fueled suspicions that Fauci’s involvement in gain-of-function research may have been more extensive than previously known. Critics argue the pardon was designed to shield Fauci from legal scrutiny and prevent further investigations into his role in funding such experiments.