HHS stops funding for risky research by EcoHealth Alliance over COVID origins.
The Department of Health and Human Services has taken a significant step by implementing an immediate, government-wide suspension on all funds allocated to EcoHealth Alliance. This firm had been using taxpayer funds to conduct gain of function research at the Wuhan lab before the COVID-19 pandemic began, which has raised serious concerns.
This decision was made by HHS after citing evidence included in the House COVID Select Subcommittee’s staff-level report on the nonprofit, indicating that EcoHealth had willfully violated the terms of a multimillion-dollar National Institute of Health grant.
According to HHS, EcoHealth’s actions are not in alignment with the responsible use of taxpayer money, and the House COVID subcommittee has echoed this sentiment by stating that such behavior should not be supported by taxpayer funds.
Committee Chairman Brad Wenstrup, R-Ohio, expressed his firm stance on the matter, saying, “EcoHealth Alliance and Dr. Peter Daszak should never again receive a single penny from the U.S. taxpayer.” He highlighted the reckless nature of EcoHealth’s actions, emphasizing that they facilitated gain-of-function research in Wuhan without proper oversight and violated multiple requirements of their NIH grant.
Wenstrup emphasized that these actions are not only abhorrent but also indefensible and must be addressed with swift action to safeguard national security and the well-being of citizens worldwide.
The committee, with bipartisan support, had Daszak testify publicly earlier this month, revealing that at least $600,000 was redirected to the Wuhan Institute of Virology for research on bat coronaviruses’ potential transmission to humans. This included various experiments and assessments that raised concerns about the ethical standards of the research being conducted.
In addition, EcoHealth Alliance funneled over $200,000 to Wuhan University for disease surveillance research activities, underscoring the questionable allocation of U.S. taxpayer funds to entities in China conducting potentially risky research.
Former U.S. government officials, including Francis Collins, former NIH Director, have expressed that U.S. taxpayer money was not intended for supporting gain-of-function research. This type of research involves modifying viruses to enhance their infectivity among humans, posing significant risks to public health.
The U.S. Energy Department and the FBI have also weighed in on the issue, suggesting that COVID-19 likely originated from a lab leak in China, raising further questions about the nature of research being conducted at the Wuhan lab.
Despite these revelations, Rep. Brad Wenstrup has made it clear that the investigation into the origins of COVID-19 and EcoHealth Alliance is ongoing. He has stated that Daszak and his team must provide all outstanding documents and answer the Subcommittee’s questions regarding potential dishonesty under oath.
The committee remains committed to holding EcoHealth accountable for any wasteful, fraudulent, or abusive practices and is dedicated to uncovering any illegal activities, including potential falsehoods presented to Congress, NIH, or the Inspector General.
