Trump administration halts high-risk research with new government-wide policy

Jul 28, 2026

The Trump administration has issued a new government-wide policy halting federally funded dangerous gain-of-function (DGOF) research in the U.S. and abroad. The policy, which fulfills a Trump executive order, establishes stronger oversight for high-risk life sciences research and restricts funding to institutions with inadequate biosafety standards, while preserving critical biomedical work under new safeguards.

Dangerous gain-of-function research ban

▪The Trump Administration released the "United States Government Policy for Stopping High-Risk Life Sciences Research" on July 28, 2026.
▪The new U.S. government policy prohibits federally supported dangerous gain-of-function (DGOF) research in the United States and abroad.
▪The policy fulfills an Executive Order from President Trump aimed at improving the safety and security of biological research.

Policy oversight framework

▪It assigns clear responsibilities to researchers, institutions, and federal agencies for managing high-risk research before taxpayer dollars are awarded.
▪The policy replaces previous federal oversight with a unified, risk-based approach focused on potential consequences rather than a limited list of pathogens.
▪The framework establishes stronger oversight and rigorous independent review for life sciences research that could pose significant risks to public health or national security.

Biomedical research safeguards

▪The policy preserves critical biomedical research, such as the development of vaccines and therapeutics, under strong safety and security safeguards.
▪Federal funding is restricted for research conducted in countries or institutions that lack appropriate biosafety, biosecurity, and oversight standards.

International biosafety cooperation

▪The United States is calling on international partners to strengthen biosafety standards and join the effort to end dangerous gain-of-function research.
▪The policy aims to reinforce America's leadership in responsible science while protecting the health, safety, and security of future generations.