Trump to sign executive order targeting gain-of-function research: Report

THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS PREPARING AN EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT WOULD STOP FEDERAL FUNDING FOR GAIN-OF-FUNCTION RESEARCH, THE WALL STREET JOURNAL REPORTS.

GAIN-OF-FUNCTION IS A RESEARCH INTO VIRUSES AND IT’S BEEN A CONTROVERSIAL TOPIC SINCE THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

GAIN-OF-FUNCTION RESEARCH MODIFIES A VIRUS TO INCREASE ITS TRANSMISSIBILITY, VIRULENCE, OR ABILITY TO EVADE THE IMMUNE SYSTEM ESSENTIALLY MAKE A VIRUS MORE DANGEROUS AND DEADLY THAN WHAT’S FOUND IN NATURE.

RESEARCHERS ARGUE IN FAVOR OF GAIN-OF-FUNCTION (GOF) RESEARCH BECAUSE IT CAN PROVIDE CRUCIAL INSIGHTS INTO HOW VIRUSES EVOLVE AND SPREAD.

PEOPLE FAMILIAR WITH THE MATTER SPOKE ANONYMOUSLY TO THE JOURNAL SAYING THE GOAL OF THE EXECUTIVE ACTION WOULD BE TO PREVENT U.S.-FUNDED SCIENTISTS FROM CONDUCTING “GAIN-OF-FUNCTION” RESEARCH ON VIRUSES THAT COULD POSE A THREAT TO HUMAN HEALTH.

THERE’S ALSO A POSSIBILITY H5N1 ALSO KNOWN AS BIRD FLU COULD BE EXEMPT FROM THE ORDER.

SENATOR RAND PAUL AND OTHER REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN CRITICAL OF GAIN-OF-FUNCTION RESEARCH AS THEY CLAIM COVID-19 LEAKED FROM THE LAB AT THE WUHAN INSTITUTE OF VIROLOGY.

SENATOR PAUL HAS ACCUSED DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, THE FORMER DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES, OF KNOWINGLY FUNDING GAIN-OF-FUNCTION RESEARCH AT THE WUHAN LAB USING WITH FEDERAL FUNDS.

SEN. PAUL: “DR. FAUCI, DO YOU STILL SUPPORT FUNDING OF THE NIH FUNDING OF THE LAB IN WUHAN?”

FAUCI: “SENATOR PAUL, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, YOU ARE ENTIRELY AND COMPLETELY INCORRECT. THAT THE NIH HAS NOT EVER AND DOES NOT NOW FUND GAIN-OF-FUNCTION RESEARCH IN THE WUHAN INSITITUE OF VIROLOGY.”

THE ORIGIN OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC REMAINS UNDETERMINED. IN OCTOBER 2021, THE OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE RELEASED A DECLASSIFIED REPORT ASSERTING IT COULD NOT PROVIDE A CONCLUSION ON THE ORIGINS OF COVID-19.

THE PRESIDENT’S EXECUTIVE ACTION HAS NOT YET BEEN FINALIZED.