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Tulsi Gabbard alleges US-funded Wuhan research tied to COVID origins, intensifying debate over gain-of-function studies and pandemic transparency.
Washington
Outgoing US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has alleged that former Biden administration medical adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci funded research in Wuhan that contributed to the emergence of COVID-19, marking a controversial parting statement on her final day in office.
According to reports, Gabbard claimed that US taxpayer money was used to support “gain-of-function” research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology and accused Fauci of influencing intelligence assessments on the origins of COVID-19.
She further alleged that Fauci misled Congress and worked with elements within the intelligence community to suppress or distort findings related to a possible lab-linked origin of the virus.
Gabbard also tied her claims to newly declassified documents released by her office, which she said pointed to broader concerns about US-funded biological research abroad, including more than 120 laboratories across over 30 countries.
The allegations come amid an ongoing political debate in the United States over the origins of COVID-19, including whether the virus emerged through natural spillover or a laboratory-related incident in Wuhan, China. US intelligence agencies have previously expressed differing levels of confidence on the issue, with no unified conclusion.
Fauci, who served as the former Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, has repeatedly rejected claims that US-funded research caused the pandemic or that he concealed relevant evidence. His supporters argue that available scientific evidence does not support allegations of deliberate misconduct or suppression.
The latest remarks are expected to intensify political and scientific debate in Washington over pandemic oversight, biosecurity research, and the transparency of US-funded overseas scientific programs.