HHS cuts off funding for EcoHealth Alliance in light of COVID Committee evidence
The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has taken a bold step by debarred EcoHealth Alliance Inc. and its former President Dr. Peter Daszak, preventing both the organization and the individual from receiving federal funds for a period of five years. This action was taken as a result of EcoHealth’s alleged failure to report dangerous gain-of-function experiments to the government. The notice of debarment for Daszak cited the necessity of these actions to protect US government business interests.
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., expressed his support for the debarment, describing it as “justice for the American people.” Comer criticized EcoHealth and Daszak as “bad actors” who used taxpayer dollars to conduct risky gain-of-function research in China.
The Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, a part of the House Oversight Committee, conducted an investigation into government funding and oversight of gain-of-function research. Their interim report highlighted EcoHealth’s repeated violations of the terms of an NIH grant and recommended their debarment from receiving any federal funding.
The committee also accused EcoHealth of failing to submit an annual research update on time, only filing it in August 2021, nearly two years after the deadline in September 2019.
Committee chairman Brad Wenstrup, R-Oh, condemned Daszak and EcoHealth for their actions, stating that they conducted dangerous research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, violated grant terms, and put US national security at risk. He emphasized that they should never receive funding from US taxpayers again.
The debarment period for EcoHealth Alliance is set to end on May 14, 2029, while Daszak’s debarment will conclude six days later on May 20, 2029.
Recent revelations showed that EcoHealth Alliance received close to $100 million in taxpayer funds from the federal government between FY 2008 and FY 2024. This significant amount of funding raises concerns about accountability and transparency in the allocation of government resources.
These developments underscore the importance of stringent oversight and accountability measures when it comes to government-funded research and the need to ensure that taxpayer dollars are used responsibly. It is crucial to uphold ethical standards and prioritize the safety and well-being of the public in all scientific endeavors.
