RSC Applauds Trump's Ban on Foreign Lab Funding
WASHINGTON D.C. – In a decisive moment for American public health and national security, President Trump signed an executive order today terminating federal funding for dangerous gain-of-function research in adversarial countries, including China and Iran, as well as other foreign nations with insufficient oversight.
The Republican Study Committee (RSC) has long advocated for policies that ensure American taxpayer dollars will never bankroll research in foreign countries with life-threatening pandemic potential. Closing vulnerabilities in our scientific funding apparatus is of paramount importance. Members praised the signing of this historic executive order:
“President Trump’s decisive action against gain-of-function research is a significant step towards greater government agency accountability," said Rep. Morgan Griffith (VA-09). "While this news is welcomed by many who have closely investigated COVID-19 origins, I believe future congressional action is essential to monitoring gain-of-function research of concern, reforming our public health agencies and protecting American life from risky experiments that involve dangerous virus transmission in humans.”
"Serving on the 118th Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, I saw firsthand how reckless and unaccountable gain-of-function experiments truly were—especially in secretive, unregulated labs. It’s indefensible that American tax dollars ever supported this kind of research. President Trump is taking the long-overdue step to put an end to it," said Rep. Michael Cloud (TX-27).
“President Trump is right to cut off taxpayer funding for dangerous gain-of-function experiments recklessly championed by corrupt Anthony Fauci," said Rep. Mary Miller (IL-15). "As we've seen, this type of research poses a serious threat to public safety, and I applaud the President for taking decisive action to shut it down and protect the American people.”
"Once again, President Trump is rightsizing the federal government and restoring accountability to the taxpayers that elect us,” said Rep. Dave Taylor (OH-02). “This action is yet another example of President Trump's commitment to Ohio common sense and I wholeheartedly support it."
BACKGROUND:
The Republican Study Committee is the oldest and largest conservative caucus in the House and represents the leading voice for conservative values in Congress. The RSC is home to over 180 strong members, fighting every single day for the American people.