Why Is the Trump Admin Restricting Gain-of-Function Research?
Crossroads with Joshua Philipp
The Epoch Times
4.9 • 594 Ratings
🗓️ 8 May 2025
⏱️ 65 minutes
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Summary
A controversial research program is now again being restricted. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on May 5 about “Improving the Safety and Security of Biological Research.” The order takes aim at practices including gain-of-function research, where scientists add new capabilities to existing pathogens. And in particular, it also addresses taxpayer-funded research programs in other countries where restrictions may not be as strong.
Views expressed in this video are opinions of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | A controversial research program is now again being restricted. President Donald Trump signed an |
| 0:05.5 | executive order that takes aim at practices, including gain of function research, where scientists |
| 0:11.5 | add new capabilities to existing pathogens. And in other news, the Trump administration is also now |
| 0:18.2 | looking at third countries as locations to send deported |
| 0:22.3 | illegal immigrants. And now Libya is on the table as a destination. I'm the Epic Times senior |
| 0:28.1 | investigative reporter Joshua Phillip, and this is Crossroads. |
| 0:43.2 | A controversial research program many of you now know about is again being restricted. |
| 0:49.2 | President Donald Trump signed an executive order on May 5th about improving the safety and security of biological research. And the order to take same at practices that include guess what gain of function |
| 0:56.6 | research something we've we've all come to know about this is where scientists add new capabilities |
| 1:02.3 | to existing pathogens and there are concerns it could get out frankly that's what trump is talking |
| 1:08.1 | about in fact in particular this also addresses taxpayer-funded research programs in other countries |
| 1:17.0 | where oversight and restrictions may, let's say, not be as strong like China. |
| 1:23.3 | And they actually mentioned that directly, by the way. |
| 1:26.0 | Now, first off, this is how the White House describes the need for these new restrictions. |
| 1:29.3 | This is the official announcement. |
| 1:31.3 | It says, dangerous gain of function research on biological agents and pathogens has the potential to significantly endanger the lives of American citizens if left unrestricted. Its effects can include widespread mortality |
| 1:47.2 | and impaired public health system, disrupted American livelihoods, and diminished economic and |
| 1:53.5 | national security, like global economic shutdowns, for example. Now, he says the Biden administration |
| 1:59.7 | allowed dangerous gain of function |
| 2:02.1 | research within the United States with insufficient levels of oversight. It's a little more complicated |
| 2:07.3 | than that. I will get into the details of this. And Trump says it also actively approved through the |
| 2:12.9 | National Institutes of Health federal life science research funding in China and other countries where |
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