Blab Politics
U.S. Intelligence Director Reveals Over 120 Foreign Biolabs Funded by America, Including Ukraine Facilities
On Friday, former Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard turned the spotlight on a hidden network of U.S.-funded biolabs, claiming that the United States has financed more than 120 laboratories in over 30 countries—including facilities in Ukraine. The announcement arrived in a video posted to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) website.
Gabbard said she spent months combing through intelligence‑community holdings and files before uncovering documentation that confirms long‑standing U.S. government funding of these laboratories. She highlighted that several of the sites conduct research on hazardous, highly contagious pathogens and that a subset has engaged in gain‑of‑function (GoF) work—modifying viruses to study how they might become more transmissible or dangerous.
According to her, at least one U.S.‑funded laboratory in Ukraine likely houses dangerous pathogens and remains vulnerable to Russian attack, seizure, or accidental damage amid the ongoing war. Gabbard added that information about the labs’ existence, locations, and activities had been knowingly withheld from the American public.
The former DNI linked her findings to a 2025 executive order issued by President Donald Trump that ended federal funding for GoF research worldwide. She argued that the order was a direct response to the risks she described as threatening public safety.
In the same statement, Gabbard noted that the ODNI had recently directed intelligence agencies to intensify monitoring and data collection on overseas biological laboratories. She claimed that this effort has already yielded new information about clinical trials and research activities that raise ethical, financial, and national‑security concerns.
Gabbard also criticized former administration officials and public‑health leaders, naming Anthony Fauci among those she said misled the public about the existence of U.S.‑funded biolabs abroad. She accused politicians, health professionals, and members of the Biden administration’s national‑security team of lying to the American people and threatened those who attempted to expose the truth.
The former DNI pledged that the ODNI would continue working with other federal agencies to identify the laboratories’ locations, determine which pathogens they contain, and prevent future GoF research that could threaten public health and national security.
Gabbard’s announcement follows her resignation as DNI on May 22 2026—a move she said was prompted by her husband’s cancer diagnosis. She remains the most recent former DNI to depart the post.
The U.S. government has not yet released independent confirmation of the claims made by Gabbard. No other intelligence agency has issued a statement corroborating the number of laboratories or the nature of the research conducted. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence has not yet responded to requests for comment.
The allegations raise questions about the oversight of U.S.‑funded research abroad and the potential risks associated with gain‑of‑function work. The Trump administration’s 2025 executive order that halted federal funding for GoF research outside the United States is the most recent policy aimed at limiting such work.
As of now, no legislative or regulatory action has been announced to address the specific laboratories identified by Gabbard. The ODNI has indicated that it will continue to collaborate with partner agencies to assess the situation.
The U.S. intelligence community has not yet provided a timeline for when additional information might be released. The ODNI’s statement does not specify whether the laboratories are currently active or whether any of the pathogens have been transferred to other facilities.
The claims also intersect with ongoing discussions about the safety and security of foreign laboratories that receive U.S. funding. In 2025, the Trump administration issued an executive order that restricted federal funding for GoF research in countries it deemed to lack sufficient oversight, a policy that was later expanded to include China, Iran, and other nations.
The U.S. government’s response to the allegations remains pending. No official statement has confirmed or denied the existence of the laboratories or the nature of the research conducted. The ODNI has not yet indicated whether it will release additional documentation or engage in a formal investigation.
The situation remains fluid, and observers note that the allegations could prompt a review of U.S. funding practices for overseas research facilities. The outcome will depend on future releases of intelligence data, potential congressional inquiries, and any legal actions that may arise from the claims.
Until further information is available, the allegations remain unverified by independent sources. The ODNI’s statement is the only public source of the evidence presented by Gabbard.
Gabbard said she spent months combing through intelligence‑community holdings and files before uncovering documentation that confirms long‑standing U.S. government funding of these laboratories. She highlighted that several of the sites conduct research on hazardous, highly contagious pathogens and that a subset has engaged in gain‑of‑function (GoF) work—modifying viruses to study how they might become more transmissible or dangerous.
According to her, at least one U.S.‑funded laboratory in Ukraine likely houses dangerous pathogens and remains vulnerable to Russian attack, seizure, or accidental damage amid the ongoing war. Gabbard added that information about the labs’ existence, locations, and activities had been knowingly withheld from the American public.
The former DNI linked her findings to a 2025 executive order issued by President Donald Trump that ended federal funding for GoF research worldwide. She argued that the order was a direct response to the risks she described as threatening public safety.
In the same statement, Gabbard noted that the ODNI had recently directed intelligence agencies to intensify monitoring and data collection on overseas biological laboratories. She claimed that this effort has already yielded new information about clinical trials and research activities that raise ethical, financial, and national‑security concerns.
Gabbard also criticized former administration officials and public‑health leaders, naming Anthony Fauci among those she said misled the public about the existence of U.S.‑funded biolabs abroad. She accused politicians, health professionals, and members of the Biden administration’s national‑security team of lying to the American people and threatened those who attempted to expose the truth.
The former DNI pledged that the ODNI would continue working with other federal agencies to identify the laboratories’ locations, determine which pathogens they contain, and prevent future GoF research that could threaten public health and national security.
Gabbard’s announcement follows her resignation as DNI on May 22 2026—a move she said was prompted by her husband’s cancer diagnosis. She remains the most recent former DNI to depart the post.
The U.S. government has not yet released independent confirmation of the claims made by Gabbard. No other intelligence agency has issued a statement corroborating the number of laboratories or the nature of the research conducted. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence has not yet responded to requests for comment.
The allegations raise questions about the oversight of U.S.‑funded research abroad and the potential risks associated with gain‑of‑function work. The Trump administration’s 2025 executive order that halted federal funding for GoF research outside the United States is the most recent policy aimed at limiting such work.
As of now, no legislative or regulatory action has been announced to address the specific laboratories identified by Gabbard. The ODNI has indicated that it will continue to collaborate with partner agencies to assess the situation.
The U.S. intelligence community has not yet provided a timeline for when additional information might be released. The ODNI’s statement does not specify whether the laboratories are currently active or whether any of the pathogens have been transferred to other facilities.
The claims also intersect with ongoing discussions about the safety and security of foreign laboratories that receive U.S. funding. In 2025, the Trump administration issued an executive order that restricted federal funding for GoF research in countries it deemed to lack sufficient oversight, a policy that was later expanded to include China, Iran, and other nations.
The U.S. government’s response to the allegations remains pending. No official statement has confirmed or denied the existence of the laboratories or the nature of the research conducted. The ODNI has not yet indicated whether it will release additional documentation or engage in a formal investigation.
The situation remains fluid, and observers note that the allegations could prompt a review of U.S. funding practices for overseas research facilities. The outcome will depend on future releases of intelligence data, potential congressional inquiries, and any legal actions that may arise from the claims.
Until further information is available, the allegations remain unverified by independent sources. The ODNI’s statement is the only public source of the evidence presented by Gabbard.
