HHS Disbars EcoHealth Alliance Over Chinese Wuhan Lab Gain of Function Research Violations

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced on Friday that EcoHealth Alliance and its former president, Dr. Peter Daszak, have been disbarred from receiving federal funding for five years.

This decision comes amid allegations that the nonprofit improperly directed taxpayer funds to the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China, a facility linked to the suspected origin of COVID-19, without proper government oversight.

The House Oversight Committee, led by Chairman James Comer, praised the move as a significant victory for accountability and taxpayer protection.

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“Justice for the American people was served today,” Comer stated.

“Bad actor EcoHealth Alliance and 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. Today’s decision is not only a victory for the U.S. taxpayer, but also for American national security and the safety of citizens worldwide.”

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… https://t.co/TAZd0DPn4a

— Rep. James Comer (@RepJamesComer) January 18, 2025

The HHS decision follows a series of actions taken against EcoHealth Alliance over the past year.

In May, the department suspended the nonprofit’s federal funding and recommended a permanent ban due to repeated violations of its National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant terms.

While these violations prompted initial action, the final decision to disbar EcoHealth Alliance and Daszak was only finalized on Friday.

The allegations against EcoHealth Alliance stem from its handling of grants intended for research purposes.

According to the Oversight Committee, the nonprofit facilitated gain-of-function research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, bypassing necessary oversight and accountability measures.

This type of research, which involves enhancing the transmissibility or virulence of pathogens, has been linked to concerns about the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The decision to disbar Daszak and EcoHealth Alliance reflects growing scrutiny over how U.S. taxpayer funds are used in international research partnerships.

Chairman Comer emphasized the importance of ensuring that organizations engaged in high-risk research are held accountable.

“Given that a lab-related incident involving gain-of-function research is the most likely origin of COVID-19, EcoHealth and its former President should never again receive a single cent from the U.S. taxpayer,” Comer said.

The disbarment is expected to have significant implications for EcoHealth Alliance, which has been a key player in global disease research initiatives.

The organization has faced widespread criticism for its role in funneling funds to the Wuhan Institute of Virology, an institution at the center of the lab-leak theory regarding the origins of the pandemic.

The House Oversight Committee has stated that it will continue to investigate the use of taxpayer funds in research programs, particularly those involving high-risk projects like gain-of-function studies.

Comer and other committee members have pledged to push for greater transparency and tighter controls over federal funding to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The HHS ruling marks a turning point in the government’s handling of organizations accused of misusing public funds.

With EcoHealth Alliance and Peter Daszak now barred from receiving federal money, the focus shifts to ensuring that future grant recipients operate with the highest levels of accountability and oversight.

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