Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said the intelligence community has identified U.S.-funded biomedical laboratories operating in more than 30 countries, in her final weeks leading the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
The release came one day after new documents shared Thursday by Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) alleged that Dr. Anthony Fauci used ties to the intelligence community to influence national security agencies in debates over the origins of COVID-19. Some laboratories have engaged in, or currently engage in, gain-of-function research, according to ODNI.
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Gabbard said the newly released material reflects what she characterized as “never-before-seen intelligence” on more than 120 U.S.-funded labs across over 30 countries. She framed the disclosure as part of a broader push to increase transparency and curb federal support for certain pathogen research overseas.
“I’m releasing intelligence showing U.S. funding for more than 120 biolabs in over 30 countries, including Ukraine,” Gabbard said, adding that ODNI will continue working with federal partners to map where these facilities are located and what research they conduct.
“Many of these U.S. government-funded biolabs are currently or have previously engaged in research using hazardous and highly contagious pathogens, in some cases to include dangerous Gain-of-Function research, with very little visibility or oversight,” Gabbard said.
“We will continue working across the government to identify where these labs are and what pathogens they contain,” she added, tying the effort to President Donald Trump’s directive aimed at restricting federal funding for gain-of-function research abroad.
“President Trump understands the serious threat dangerous Gain-of-Function research poses to the American people, which is why he took decisive action on May 25, 2025, signing EO 14292 to end federal funding of Gain-of-Function research around the world,” ODNI said.
Gabbard warned that some facilities in Ukraine may face heightened risk due to the war with Russia, noting prior intelligence concerns that such sites could be vulnerable to damage or seizure.
ODNI said it has issued updated guidance expanding intelligence collection on overseas biological research facilities. Early reporting, officials said, is also examining clinical trials conducted at some of these sites and raising what they described as “ethical, financial, and security concerns.”
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The announcement also comes amid a broader leadership transition at ODNI that has become politically fraught in recent weeks.
The Senate Intelligence Committee has scheduled a confirmation hearing for Jay Clayton on June 17. If confirmed, Clayton, who is currently serving as a U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, could be sworn in later this month. Gabbard will leave her position on June 30.
His expected confirmation is seen as pivotal to advancing the extension of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, after negotiations over renewal stalled in Congress. The impasse has been complicated by internal disagreements over interim leadership, including Trump’s decision to appoint Bill Pulte to head the office temporarily, a move that drew bipartisan pushback and contributed to the broader stalemate over surveillance authorities.
