United States President Donald Trump has ended unrestricted pathogen research, claiming that it endangers Americans’ lives. The executive order restricts federal funding for “gain-of-function” research into viruses and other biological agents in the U.S. and abroad, including China.
Unrestricted gain-of-function research could “significantly endanger the lives of American citizens,” Trump’s order alleges, and lead to “widespread mortality, an impaired public health system, disrupted American livelihoods, and diminished economic and national security,” according to the document.
”Gain-of-function” or “dual use” studies have been gaining massive amounts of controversy since the COVID-19 plandemic. Trump has suggested that a lab leak in Wuhan, China, where US-funded research was based, was the source of the outbreak that brought the world to a standstill, according to a report by RT.
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Gain-of-function and similar U.S.-based programs will be suspended for at least 120 days, during which existing policies on dual-use research will be revised or replaced, according to the document. It also blamed the administration of Trump’s predecessor Joe Biden for allowing “dangerous” research into viruses in the US and “actively” approving funding for similar projects abroad, where Washington’s oversight is limited.
The document also claimed that Joe Biden, Trump’s predecessor, allowed “dangerous” research into viruses to take place. It also allowed funding to similar projects overseas where the U.S. is limited in its regulatory powers.
Moscow has repeatedly alleged that US-backed biological research laboratories in Ukraine and other countries near Russian borders are involved in bioweapons research.
Washington has acknowledged providing support to laboratories in Ukraine but insisted that they were owned by Kiev and focused solely on preventing the outbreaks of infectious diseases and developing vaccines.
The Defense Ministry in Moscow has claimed that the US has transferred unfinished Ukrainian projects to post-Soviet states and Southeast Asia, while also singling out Africa as a focal point of Washington’s interests. –RT
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