President Donald Trump signed a sweeping executive order on Monday, May 5, placing strict new limits on gain-of-function research — a controversial area of science that involves altering pathogens to study how they might become more transmissible or deadly. The move, his administration says, is intended to prevent another pandemic and increase transparency in U.S.-funded scientific work.
“If left unrestricted, [gain-of-function’s] effects can include widespread mortality, an impaired public health system, disrupted American livelihoods, and diminished economic and national security,” the order states.
The action halts all federal funding for high-risk pathogen research in “countries of concern” like China, freezes ongoing projects that fall under new risk criteria, and sets the stage for a tougher, more enforceable regulatory framework to replace outdated 2024 policies.
COVID-19’s Shadow Still Looms
According to the Trump administration, the COVID-19 pandemic exposed critical vulnerabilities in how the U.S. and its partners oversee dangerous scientific research. While the origins of the virus remain officially unresolved, agencies including the FBI, Department of Energy, and CIA have supported the theory that a lab leak may have triggered the global crisis.
“There's always a danger that in doing this research it might leak out—even by accident—and cause a pandemic,” said Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, current director of the National Institutes of Health, at the signing event.
U.S. officials also criticized past grant programs, including those administered by the NIH, for allowing taxpayer dollars to flow into foreign laboratories without proper oversight.
Elon Musk, GOP Leaders Applaud the Decision
Tech mogul and Trump adviser Elon Musk responded to the announcement with a blunt post on X, his social media platform: “The real name for ‘gain of function’ is death maximization. That’s what Fauci was actually researching.”
The comment reflects ongoing skepticism from many Republicans and conservative figures about the role of U.S. science agencies during the pandemic.
Rep. James Comer, chairman of the House Oversight Committee, also voiced his support: “I applaud President Trump for banning taxpayer-funded gain-of-function research government-wide. This administration is working to ensure the health and safety of all Americans.”
Fallout for EcoHealth and Fauci-Era Policies
Gain-of-function research has long been controversial, but public outrage spiked when it was revealed that EcoHealth Alliance, a U.S.-based nonprofit, collaborated with the Wuhan Institute of Virology on coronavirus research using U.S. grant money.
Although former NIAID Director Dr. Anthony Fauci has insisted that none of the funding supported gain-of-function work, critics — including members of Trump’s cabinet — say the risks were too high and oversight too weak.
In January 2025, EcoHealth and its president were officially barred from receiving funding from the Department of Health and Human Services after a congressional investigation found they violated terms of their NIH grants and repeatedly ignored oversight requests.
What's in the Order: Key Policy Changes
President Trump’s executive order introduces a series of major reforms:
Immediate halt to federal funding for “dangerous gain-of-function research” conducted in “countries of concern,” including China.
Suspension of existing projects that meet new risk criteria until they are reviewed and approved under strengthened oversight rules.
A new national policy framework replacing 2024 guidance, mandating independent reviews, greater transparency, and regular updates every four years.
Stricter regulation of synthetic DNA providers, requiring them to screen customers and enforce biosecurity safeguards.
Development of new legal tools to monitor and regulate risky research conducted outside federal funding channels.
A Pause for Reform — But Not a Ban Forever
While the executive order pauses certain kinds of high-risk research, it does not permanently outlaw gain-of-function work. The White House said the pause will remain in place “until a safe, more enforceable and transparent policy governing such research can be developed and implemented.”
Supporters of gain-of-function science argue that the research is critical for pandemic preparedness — allowing scientists to anticipate how viruses might evolve and how vaccines might need to adapt. But even some in the scientific community now agree that stricter guardrails are needed.
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