Trump Administration Announces New Policy Regarding Gain-Of-Function Research

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The Trump administration on Tuesday announced it has officially banned gain-of-function research, saying it “has the potential to threaten lives, disrupt communities, strain public health systems, and undermine America’s economic and national security if not properly restricted and controlled.”

“An America First approach to scientific research means ensuring that taxpayer dollars are never used to support dangerous gain-of-function research or proliferate any other bio risks — whether conducted in the United States or abroad,” the Department of State wrote.

“The new policy establishes a transparent, accountable framework that prohibits federal support for dangerous gain-of-function research, strengthens oversight of other high-risk life sciences research, and restricts funding for research conducted in countries that lack appropriate safety, security, and oversight standards,” it continued.

“During my confirmation hearing, I pledged to the American public that I would implement strong and transparent oversight of NIH-supported research,” NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya said.

“Now, I am pleased to share the new U.S. Government Policy for Stopping High-Risk Life Sciences Research, a groundbreaking government-wide mandate that expressly prohibits gain-of-function research which can significantly endanger American lives and jeopardize our Nation’s security,” he added.

More from the Department of State:

Scientific leadership requires both innovation and responsibility. The United States will continue to support biomedical research that develops vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics, and other lifesaving medical countermeasures while ensuring that the highest-risk research is subject to rigorous safeguards. We encourage our international partners to join us in ending dangerous gain-of-function research and adopting strong biosafety and biosecurity standards that make the world safer, more secure, and better prepared for future biological threats.

“The federal government has a duty to protect the American people — not fund research that could put them at risk. Today, we are ending federal support for dangerous gain-of-function research and replacing weak oversight with clear, enforceable safeguards,” Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy said.

“This policy delivers on President Trump’s commitment to put safety first while ensuring America remains the global leader in ethical, responsible, and lifesaving biomedical research,” he added.

HHS stated:

Specifically, the new policy prohibits federal support for dangerous gain-of-function research conducted in the United States and abroad, establishes rigorous independent review for certain high-risk life sciences research, and restricts federal funding for research conducted in countries or institutions that lack appropriate biosafety, biosecurity, and oversight standards. At the same time, the policy preserves critical biomedical research — including the development of vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics, and other medical countermeasures — under strong safety and security safeguards.

The policy replaces previous federal oversight frameworks with a unified, risk-based approach focused on the potential consequences of research rather than a limited list of pathogens. It establishes clear responsibilities for researchers, research institutions, and federal agencies to identify, assess, and manage the highest-risk life sciences research before taxpayer dollars are awarded.

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