Trump Pauses U.S. Funded Gain-of-Function Research for 120 Days

U.S. President Trump signed an executive order on May 6, 2025, halting U.S. funding for gain-of-function (GOF) research in China, Iran, and other countries with insufficient oversight. It also pauses U.S. GOF research for 120 days to develop a new safety and oversight framework.

Key Points:

• The order stops federal funding for GOF research in certain countries and halts similar research in the U.S. temporarily.

• A new framework will be developed with input from the Office of Science and Technology Policy and HHS.

• The goal is to reduce lab-related risks and ensure safer, more transparent research.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. commended the order, stating, “In all of the history of gain-of-function research, we cannot point to a single good thing that’s come from it.” 

Dr. Meryl Nass, a bioweapons expert, expressed cautious optimism, describing the executive order as “an excellent start” but advocating for a global ban and enforcement.

Nicolas Hulscher, an epidemiologist, welcomed the pause but cautioned that it is only a preliminary step, emphasizing the need for a permanent solution to address the risks associated with GOF research.

Gain-of-function research makes pathogens more dangerous and has been criticized for its potential use in bioweapons. Evidence points to a lab leak as the likely origin of COVID-19, with U.S. funding linked to risky research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology.

While the order is seen as a positive step, critics call for stronger and permanent actions, including a global ban on GOF research.