• Former President Donald Trump has signed an executive order prohibiting federal funding for dangerous gain-of-function research, particularly in nations with weak oversight.
  • The move, which also pauses certain U.S.-based pathogen research, follows a devastating 2025 biological attack that exposed systemic vulnerabilities.
  • The order is expected to have immediate consequences for international research collaborations and has sparked debate within the scientific community.

A New Policy in a Tense Climate

Former President Donald Trump has called on every nation to end the development of biological weapons, formalizing the stance through a sweeping executive order that takes direct aim at risky gain-of-function research. The order, signed late Wednesday, immediately prohibits all federal funding for such research, especially in countries deemed to have insufficient oversight, like China and Iran.

The policy shift comes amid a heightened state of alert following a major biological attack on U.S. soil in 2025 that killed hundreds of thousands. That event exposed critical weaknesses in American biodefense systems and ignited a fierce debate over the oversight of dual-use biological research. A person familiar with the drafting of the order said the administration's goal is to "prioritize immediate public safety and national security by shutting down avenues for potential threats, whether accidental or deliberate."

Restricting Funds and Pausing Projects

The executive order directs U.S. research agencies to halt funding for any biological research abroad that could pose a threat to public health or national security, including work deemed likely to contribute to future pandemics. Domestically, the order mandates a pause on certain infectious pathogen research until what the text describes as "safer and clearer regulations" can be implemented.

This move effectively severs U.S. financial support from a number of international collaborative projects. Officials at several research institutions, who asked not to be named because they were not authorized to speak publicly, confirmed they are already reviewing ongoing grants to determine the immediate impact. Attempts to reach the National Institutes of Health for comment were not immediately successful.

Scientific Community Reacts

The order has drawn a mixed response from experts. Proponents argue that tighter oversight is long overdue, pointing to long-standing ambiguities in biosafety rules. "This is a necessary step to reduce a clear and present danger," said one policy analyst who advises the administration on biosecurity.

However, other scientists expressed deep concern that the broad language could stifle legitimate research crucial for vaccine development and pandemic preparedness. The debate echoes tensions that intensified after the COVID-19 pandemic, which fueled suspicions about laboratory safety practices, particularly in China.

International Fallout and Historical Echoes

The policy lands as the international community marks the 50th anniversary of the Biological Weapons Convention, a treaty whose enforcement has historically been hampered by weak inspection regimes. The Trump administration's previous cuts to programs like the Cooperative Threat Reduction initiative had already drawn criticism for potentially weakening global biodefense coordination. Experts warn that this latest unilateral action, while aimed at strengthening U.S. security, may further complicate international relations and reduce American leadership in global health security, potentially creating strategic advantages for rivals.

The immediate future points to stricter regulation of U.S.-funded biological research and a likely withdrawal from some international projects. In the long term, the order adds momentum to calls for a comprehensive overhaul of both national and global biosafety norms.