Overview
- On Friday, June 12, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard publicly released declassified materials saying the U.S. funded more than 120 biological laboratories in over 30 countries.
- Gabbard said the documents show many labs worked on hazardous pathogens and that some projects involved gain‑of‑function research, raising concerns about oversight and containment at those sites.
- The files name about 40 laboratories in Ukraine that held Soviet‑era repositories of dangerous agents such as anthrax, Ebola and tuberculosis and note intelligence warnings that some sites were vulnerable to attack or seizure.
- Gabbard directed intelligence agencies to step up monitoring and mapping of overseas labs, a move tied to President Trump's May 25, 2025 executive order banning federal gain‑of‑function funding worldwide.
- The disclosure has split reaction: Gabbard accused previous officials and public‑health leaders of hiding the scope of U.S. involvement, while experts and other outlets say many programs were long‑running cooperative biodefense efforts under CTR/BTRP and not secret offensive work.