On Friday, outgoing Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard released declassified files documenting U.S. funding for over 120 biological laboratories in more than 30 countries.
The reports specifically highlight labs in Ukraine, which Gabbard claims were used to research dangerous pathogens like anthrax and Ebola with insufficient federal oversight. This declassification supports a Trump administration executive order targeting "gain-of-function" research, which involves enhancing pathogens to study potential pandemic threats. Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry and several intelligence experts rejected the claims, labeling them as "baseless" and a repetition of long-standing Russian disinformation campaigns.
Following this release, lawmakers are expected to debate new restrictions on how the U.S. monitors and funds biological research projects outside its borders.
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