The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has officially debarred Peter Daszak, president of EcoHealth Alliance, over allegations of misusing federal funds and failing to adhere to safety protocols tied to gain-of-function research. The announcement follows an eight-month investigation by the House Oversight Committee, which published the findings last week.
EcoHealth Alliance, a nonprofit focused on pandemic research, and Daszak have been prohibited from participating in federal programs for five years, with the ban retroactively applied from May 2024. EcoHealth has also confirmed that Daszak’s employment has been terminated. In a formal letter to EcoHealth’s legal representatives, the HHS stated that Daszak “lacks the present responsibility” required to engage in U.S. government procurement or nonprocurement activities.
EcoHealth’s role in managing a 2014 federal grant that supported research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) has drawn significant criticism. The grant included biosafety conditions intended to prevent experiments that might enhance a virus’s transmissibility or severity. However, investigations by the House Oversight Committee uncovered multiple failures to comply with these conditions, writes The Daily Caller.
HHS debarred and cut funding to both Daszak and EcoHealth Alliance, a U.S.-based nonprofit which researches pandemics. EcoHealth also terminated Daszak’s employment, according to a series of letters the House Oversight Committee made public.
The action taken by the agency is the culmination of an eight-month investigation which started in May 2024 when HHS suspended Daszak and proposed his debarment, HHS wrote in a letter to EcoHealth’s lawyer.
“The suspension and proposed debarment actions were based on information that Dr. Daszak lacks the present responsibility to participate in United States Federal Government procurement and nonprocurement programs,” HHS wrote.
The debarment, which is retroactive to a May 2024 suspension for both Daszak and EcoHealth, will last for a period of five years.
The controversy revolves around EcoHealth’s handling of gain-of-function research, a practice restricted under a 2014 federal moratorium. In 2016, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), then led by Dr. Anthony Fauci, sent a letter to EcoHealth emphasizing the prohibition of such research. EcoHealth was instructed to certify that its work complied with the moratorium’s restrictions. Despite these requirements, a fifth-year experiment under EcoHealth’s grant allegedly exceeded safety thresholds by significantly increasing viral activity and lethality. EcoHealth did not promptly inform the National Institutes of Health (NIH) of these findings, as required.
EcoHealth contested the accusations, asserting that the experiments were consistent with earlier results. However, when asked to provide documentation such as laboratory records from EcoHealth and the WIV, the organization was unable to produce the requested materials.
Scrutiny of Daszak’s actions also extended to his correspondence with David Morens, a senior aide to Dr. Fauci. Emails revealed unofficial communications between the two, sparking concerns about transparency. One email reportedly included a remark about evading Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests by deleting messages, a comment that amplified public criticism.
In December, an investigative report revealed that not only did Fauci and his friends work to hide emails, but they also withheld intelligence information from the president himself.
The debarment of Daszak and EcoHealth Alliance has reignited debates over the ethical limits of gain-of-function research and the accountability of organizations entrusted with public funds. While supporters of the decision argue it is a necessary measure to ensure safety and fiscal responsibility, critics have pointed to broader issues of oversight within federally funded research programs. This move is likely to have lasting effects, prompting both scientific and political discussions about the future of controversial research practices.
James Comer, Chairman of the House Oversight Committee, applauded the decision, emphasizing its importance for accountability. Comer accused Daszak and EcoHealth of using taxpayer money to enable hazardous gain-of-function research in China. He shared his criticisms publicly, calling attention to what he described as irresponsible management practices.
“Justice for the American people was served tonight. Bad actor EcoHealth Alliance & its corrupt former President, Dr. Peter Daszak, were formally debarred by HHS for using taxpayer funds to facilitate dangerous gain-of-function research in China. This decision is not only a victory for taxpayers but also for national security and the safety of citizens worldwide,” the Republican from Kentucky said.
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