HHS cuts ties with EcoHealth Alliance, Peter Daszak fired over pandemic research scandal
By isabelle // 2025-01-23
Copy
 
  • HHS debarred EcoHealth Alliance from federal funding for five years due to violations tied to gain-of-function research and lack of transparency.
  • Dr. Peter Daszak, former president of EcoHealth, was terminated and barred from federal programs for failing to report dangerous experiments.
  • A congressional investigation revealed EcoHealth ignored oversight requests and delayed reporting on risky research at China’s Wuhan Institute of Virology.
  • The NIH’s inconsistent oversight allowed gain-of-function research to continue despite a 2014 federal pause, raising accountability concerns.
  • The debarment highlights the need for broader scrutiny of figures like Dr. Anthony Fauci and stricter transparency in high-risk research.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has formally debarred EcoHealth Alliance, a controversial nonprofit, from federal funding for five years. The decision, announced on January 17, follows an eight-month congressional investigation into the organization’s role in gain-of-function research tied to the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic uncovered evidence that EcoHealth Alliance and its former president, Dr. Peter Daszak, repeatedly violated federal grant requirements, raising serious questions about accountability and transparency in taxpayer-funded research. In addition, EcoHealth Alliance has fired Daszak. The debarment marks a significant step in holding those involved in high-risk research accountable. However, it also underscores the need for further scrutiny of other key figures, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, who has repeatedly denied approving gain-of-function research despite evidence to the contrary.

Daszak’s role in the pandemic

Dr. Peter Daszak, who served as EcoHealth Alliance’s president from 2009 until his termination on January 6, 2025, was the principal investigator for a multimillion-dollar National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant. The grant, titled “Understanding the Risk of Bat Coronavirus Emergence,” funded research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) in China, where scientists conducted experiments on bat coronaviruses. The HHS Action Referral Memorandum revealed that Daszak and EcoHealth Alliance failed to report potentially dangerous gain-of-function experiments to the NIH. These experiments involved modifying viruses to make them more infectious, a practice that many experts believe could have contributed to the emergence of SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19. “Dr. Daszak lacks the present responsibility to participate in United States Federal Government procurement and non-procurement programmes,” the memorandum stated, citing his failure to comply with federal oversight requirements. The Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, led by House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.), played a pivotal role in uncovering the misconduct. The subcommittee found that EcoHealth Alliance “routinely ignored government oversight requests, failed to report dangerous gain-of-function experiments conducted at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, and produced a required research report two years late.” “Justice for the American people was served today,” Comer said in a statement. “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.” The investigation also highlighted inconsistencies in the NIH’s oversight of the research. Despite a 2014 federal pause on gain-of-function experiments, EcoHealth Alliance’s work was allowed to continue under the guise of studying bat coronaviruses. Documents show that the NIH was aware of the risks but failed to take decisive action.

A step in the right direction

While the debarment of EcoHealth Alliance and Daszak is a step in the right direction, it raises questions about the accountability of other key figures involved in the pandemic response. Dr. Anthony Fauci, former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), has repeatedly denied approving gain-of-function research. However, evidence suggests that NIAID-funded experiments at the Wuhan Institute of Virology may have contributed to the pandemic. “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 declared. The debarment of EcoHealth Alliance and Daszak serves as a reminder of the need for transparency and accountability in scientific research. As the world continues to grapple with the aftermath of the pandemic, it is imperative that all those involved in high-risk research are held to the highest standards of integrity. The HHS’s decision to debar EcoHealth Alliance and terminate Peter Daszak marks a critical moment in the ongoing investigation into the origins of COVID-19. While this action addresses some of the failures in oversight and accountability, it also highlights the need for a broader examination of the roles played by other key figures, including Dr. Anthony Fauci. As the world seeks answers, one thing is clear: transparency and accountability must remain at the forefront of scientific research to prevent future pandemics. Sources for this article include: Expose-News.com NYPost.com USRTK.org
Copy