Trump’s new executive order on gain-of-function research raises alarming concerns about the potential for future pandemics.
Trump’s executive order warns of future pandemic risks
This week, President Donald Trump signed a new executive order aimed at restricting gain-of-function research.
The research could potentially trigger the next global pandemic.
The order bans US funds from being used to sponsor this type of research abroad.
It specifically targets countries of concern, such as China and Iran.
‘It’s a big deal’, he stated, ‘It could have been that we wouldn’t have had the problem we had if we had this done earlier’.
The executive order was heralded as a precautionary measure to prevent future outbreaks.
However, a closer look at the fine print reveals limitations to the new policy. It raised concerns among some experts and critics.
Trump’s order targets research in ‘countries of concern
The new executive order prohibits federal funds from being used for gain-of-function research. It specifically targets “countries of concern” like China and Iran.
It does not fully ban gain-of-function research worldwide.
In fact, it allows federal funding to continue for this type of research in the US and other allied nations.
However, it requires additional oversight from the US government. Critics argue that the order does not go far enough.
Thomas Renz, a vaccine-skeptic lawyer and staunch Trump supporter.
He claimed that the executive order essentially “codifies” gain-of-function research.
He told The Daily Pulse: ‘They’re going to allow it under new regulations. And by doing that, they’re essentially saying, “We’re fine with gain-of-function as long as it follows the current rules.”
‘So in that way, they’re actually legitimizing gain-of-function work in this country, which is absolutely mind-blowing to me,’ he added.
Executive order highlights concerns and calls for stricter monitoring
Trump’s executive order specifically criticizes the Biden administration.
It accuses the administration of allowing gain-of-function research within the US with insufficient oversight.
The order also mentions that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) approved federal funding for such research.
It highlights that this funding was directed to China and other nations with limited oversight.
The executive order warns that this recklessness could lead to further proliferation of dangerous pathogen research.
It stresses that such research could occur in settings lacking adequate safety measures.
The document acknowledges the risks highlighted by the Covid-19 pandemic.
It emphasizes the importance of ensuring biosafety in future research.
The order also calls on Michael Kratsios, the head of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, to take action.
He is tasked with developing new guidelines for monitoring gain-of-function experiments within the next 120 days.
The history of gain-of-function research and its regulation
The history of gain-of-function research in the US shows a complex trajectory.
In 2014, under the Obama administration, federal funding for certain dangerous experiments was halted.
owever, this ban was reversed by Trump in 2017, allowing the research to continue with strict regulations.
After the Covid-19 pandemic, the Biden administration introduced new laws for monitoring gain-of-function experiments.
However, it faced criticism for not establishing an independent federal agency to oversee such research.