Donald Trump Cuts Virus Research Funding Deeming It ‘Dangerous’

Donald Trump, a staunch advocate of the theory that the coronavirus ‘escaped’ from a lab, has decided to restrict funding for certain virology research, considering it ‘dangerous.’ Backed by officials from various health organizations, Trump signed an executive order aimed at improving biosafety in scientific research. Among the announced measures is the termination of U.S. federal funding for specific research programs known as ‘gain of function.’ This involves deliberate genetic modification of pathogens, allowing researchers to study viral evolution, disease severity, or artificially enhance transmissibility to prevent future pandemics and design vaccines. However, some experts argue this method poses significant risks with minimal benefits. According to the Trump administration, such research ’caused’ the recent COVID-19 pandemic, which claimed over a million lives in the U.S. alone. The SARS-CoV-2 virus, they claim, originated from these studies conducted at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, partly funded by the U.S. government. While the lab-leak theory gains popularity in the U.S., supported by federal agencies, it remains largely dismissed by scientists. The new measures explicitly mention China among countries where such research will no longer be funded. The order calls for a strategy to respond to, limit, and monitor this type of research in the U.S., ending funding in countries without adequate oversight.