The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced on July 28 the release of the Trump Administration’s United States Government Policy for Stopping High-Risk Life Sciences Research. The policy prohibits federally supported dangerous gain-of-function research and introduces stronger oversight for life sciences research that could pose significant risks to public health, biosecurity, or national security.
According to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., “The federal government has a duty to protect the American people—not fund research that could put them at risk. Today, we are ending federal support for dangerous gain-of-function research and replacing weak oversight with clear, enforceable safeguards. This policy delivers on President Trump’s commitment to put safety first while ensuring America remains the global leader in ethical, responsible, and lifesaving biomedical research.”
The framework specifically bans federal support for dangerous gain-of-function research both domestically and internationally. It also establishes rigorous independent review processes for certain high-risk life sciences projects and restricts funding for work conducted in countries or institutions lacking proper biosafety standards. The policy is designed to preserve essential biomedical efforts such as vaccine development under enhanced safety measures.
Replacing earlier oversight frameworks, the new approach focuses on assessing potential consequences rather than maintaining a limited list of pathogens. It outlines clear responsibilities for researchers, institutions, and agencies in identifying and managing high-risk projects before awarding taxpayer funding.
NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya said, “This policy reflects a fundamental principle of science: the pursuit of knowledge must be matched by a commitment to responsibility. The overwhelming majority of biomedical research provides enormous benefits to society, and this framework helps ensure that research with the potential to create extraordinary biological risks receives the highest level of scrutiny. It protects scientific innovation while strengthening public trust that federally supported research is conducted safely, transparently, and in the best interests of the American people.”
The United States is also urging international partners to strengthen biosafety standards and join efforts against dangerous gain-of-function studies threatening global health security.