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US halts funding to Wuhan lab due to risky experiments.

US Suspends Funding to Wuhan Lab Amid COVID-19 ‌Controversy

In ‍a ⁢bold move, President Joe Biden’s administration⁤ has decided to suspend ‌funding to the Wuhan ⁣Institute ‌of ⁢Virology ‌(WIV) ​in⁢ China, the ‍very‌ same ⁣lab where COVID-19 cases were ⁤first ‌identified. This decision comes after a memorandum from ⁤the US Department of Health and Human Services‌ (HHS) ‍dated July ‍17.

Over the ‌years, the WIV has received more than $1.4‌ million‌ in US ⁣funds for ‌testing under the ‌project “Understanding the‌ Risk of Bat Coronavirus Emergence.” Shockingly, some of these ‌experiments involved making a ‌bat coronavirus more infectious, ⁢which⁤ clearly violated ‍the​ terms of the ‍grant.

Despite being ‌given opportunities to‍ contest these​ findings,⁣ the WIV has failed to do⁢ so, leaving the conclusion undisputed. ⁤As a⁣ result, the HHS ⁣official⁤ has⁤ determined that ⁢the immediate suspension of WIV ‍is ‍necessary to ​mitigate any potential public‌ health risk.

Temporary​ Suspension and Potential Debarment

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It’s important to note ⁤that ‍suspensions ‍are temporary measures, while debarments can‌ last for a⁤ longer period of ‌time. The⁤ HHS ‍is ​currently taking ⁣steps towards potentially debarring‌ the‍ WIV​ and cutting off its⁤ access to US funding.

Lawmakers have been pushing⁢ for⁣ permanent measures to bar​ US funding to ‌the⁤ WIV, citing‍ risky research conducted⁢ at the institute and the belief of some intelligence ‍officials that COVID-19 originated there. However, ‍these bills have yet to ‍clear Congress.

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Response and ​Future Actions

The⁣ decision ‍to suspend ​funding⁢ to ‍the WIV⁣ has been met with mixed reactions. Some ⁤lawmakers have criticized ‍the Biden administration ‌for taking‍ too long to make​ this decision,⁤ while others believe it​ is a necessary step to ‍address the⁣ evidence and facts surrounding the‌ institute.

As the WIV ⁣receives​ a⁢ notice of proposed debarment, it ‍will have ⁣the opportunity to protest the proposal. The final ‌decision ​will be made by the HHS suspension⁤ and debarment ‌official after reviewing the response.

While⁣ both suspensions⁢ and debarments ⁤restrict​ government agencies from providing further ​funding to the⁤ WIV, it ⁢is ‌possible that⁤ a different ⁤agency could⁣ still choose ⁢to fund ⁢the ⁣institute despite the ‍HHS ⁤action.

Requirements

In 2016, US officials ​informed EcoHealth, the organization funding⁤ the⁣ WIV,‍ about additional ⁣provisions added to⁢ the grant. These requirements…



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