Trump’s Executive Order for better safety in Biological Research
On May 5, 2025, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order aimed at enhancing the safety and security of biological research in the United States, with a particular focus on curbing the risks associated with dangerous gain-of-function research. This decisive action addresses long-standing concerns about the potential for lab-related incidents to threaten public health, safety, and national security, while ensuring that American innovation in biotechnology remains robust. The order introduces stringent measures to regulate federal funding, improve oversight, and safeguard the nation from biological threats, marking a significant shift in U.S. policy toward high-risk research.
Ending Federal Funding for High-Risk Research Abroad
A cornerstone of the Executive Order is the termination of federal funding for dangerous gain-of-function research conducted in countries deemed to pose a concern, such as China and Iran, as well as in nations with inadequate research oversight. Gain-of-function research, which involves manipulating pathogens to enhance their transmissibility or virulence, has been a subject of intense scrutiny, particularly following its role in the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic and the order specifically targets funding for research that could contribute to pandemics, citing past examples like the work conducted by the EcoHealth Alliance and the Wuhan Institute of Virology on bat coronaviruses. By cutting off federal support for such projects in high-risk jurisdictions, the administration aims to mitigate the potential for another catastrophic lab leaks that could endanger American lives.
The order also empowers U.S. research agencies to identify and halt funding for any biological research—domestic or foreign—that poses a threat to public health or national security. This proactive stance reflects a broader commitment to prioritizing the safety of American citizens over the continuation of potentially hazardous experiments. The administration argues that the Biden-era policies, including the 2024 United States Government Policy for Oversight of Dual Use Research of Concern and Pathogens with Enhanced Pandemic Potential (DURC/PEPP), relied too heavily on self-reporting and lacked enforceable safeguards, allowing risky research to persist unchecked.
Strengthening Oversight and Transparency at Home
Domestically, the Executive Order pauses research involving infectious pathogens and toxins that could endanger public safety until a more robust, transparent, and enforceable policy is developed. This pause is intended to address decades of lax oversight, where researchers have exploited subjective interpretations of biosafety regulations to evade scrutiny. The order directs the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and the National Security Advisor (NSA) to collaborate with funding agencies to craft a new policy within 120 days. Unlike previous frameworks, this policy will include strict enforcement mechanisms and enhanced reporting requirements to prevent loopholes and ensure accountability.
The administration emphasizes that these measures will not stifle innovation but aim to foster a safer research environment. By implementing comprehensive nucleic acid synthesis screening and tracking non-federally funded research, the order seeks to close gaps in oversight that could allow dangerous experiments to proceed unchecked. Within 180 days, the OSTP, in coordination with other agencies, is tasked with developing a strategy to govern and limit high-risk research across all sectors, further reinforcing the nation’s defenses against biological threats.
In short
The new policy would end support for gain of function research conducted in countries of concern, including China and impose new constraints on research within the United States. The executive order also calls for the government to develop a strategy to oversee potentially dangerous research carried out without federal funds within the United States.
“This is a historic day,” said Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, the director of the National Institutes of Health.
“It’s crazy to think that this entire nightmare was probably the result of some scientists messing with mother nature in a laboratory with technology,” said Dr. Marty Makary, the Food and Drug Administration commissioner.
