Trump Expands Ban on Gain-of-Function Research Funding

President Trump issued an executive order banning federal funding for gain-of-function research, explicitly targeting foreign countries including China, Iran, Russia, and North Korea, amid concerns such research could cause future pandemics. The move follows ongoing controversy about the safety of work that increases the transmissibility or virulence of pathogens, especially given renewed debate over the origins of COVID-19 and alleged links to a Wuhan lab. The order directs multiple U.S. agencies to strengthen oversight and update guidance for federally funded research to improve biosecurity. The NIH simultaneously announced it will cease all foreign subawards, tightening U.S. controls on overseas research funding. While the administration argues these steps are necessary to protect public health, some scientists worry the broad restrictions could impede critical biomedical research. The policy will remain in place until stricter safety standards are established.