{"id":2039295,"date":"2023-09-20T19:00:01","date_gmt":"2023-09-20T23:00:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hhs-pulls-all-federal-funding-from-wuhan-institute-of-virology\/"},"modified":"2023-09-20T19:03:27","modified_gmt":"2023-09-20T23:03:27","slug":"hhs-pulls-all-federal-funding-from-wuhan-institute-of-virology","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hhs-pulls-all-federal-funding-from-wuhan-institute-of-virology\/","title":{"rendered":"HHS cuts funding to Wuhan Institute of Virology."},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fhhs-pulls-all-federal-funding-from-wuhan-institute-of-virology%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2039295&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>The Wuhan Institute of Virology Barred from \u200bFederal Funding for 10 Years<\/h2>\n<p>The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has taken a significant step by \u200dissuing a notice that prohibits the Wuhan Institute\u2062 of Virology (WIV) from \u200dreceiving federal funding for the next decade. This decision comes as\u200c a result of the institute conducting experiments that pose a high\u200c risk to public health.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;[T]he [National Institutes of Health] determined that \u200dthe WIV may have conducted an experiment yielding a level \u200dof viral activity which\u200c was greater than permitted under the terms of the grant &#8230; which possibly\u200b did lead or could lead to health issues or other unacceptable outcomes,&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Researchers \u200cat the WIV had been receiving funding from the U.S. \u200dgovernment between 2014 and 2020 through a grant project\u200d in collaboration with the EcoHealth Alliance, a renowned organization specializing in coronavirus and gain-of-function research.<\/p>\n<p>Earlier this summer, a declassified report\u200d from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence revealed that\u200b the illness of three WIV lab workers in late 2019 was likely unrelated to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. While some of their symptoms were consistent with COVID-19, they were \u200bnot definitively diagnosed with the virus.<\/p>\n<p>In light of this incident, the National Institutes of Health requested \u200cdocumentation regarding\u2062 potential risks associated with &#8220;viral\u200d activity in violation of the grant.&#8221; However, their inquiries\u2063 in November 2021 and January 2022 went unanswered.<\/p>\n<p>The \u200bdebarment officially began on July 17, when HHS officials initially\u2063 attempted to notify\u2063 the WIV of the suspension. Unfortunately, the email notifications sent to\u2064 the addresses listed on the WIV&#8217;s English webpage were \u200breturned as undeliverable. This lack of communication capability was considered an\u2062 &#8220;aggravating factor&#8221; by HHS, leading to the decision to extend the debarment to 10 years\u2062 instead of the standard \u2064three.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;The Wuhan Institute of Virology should not receive another cent of U.S. \u2063taxpayer funding,&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic Chairman Brad Wenstrup (R-OH) strongly supports the decision to cut off funding to the WIV. He\u2064 believes that after years of conducting risky gain-of-function\u2063 research with inadequate biosafety measures, it is crucial to take this \u2062necessary step. Wenstrup also emphasizes the mounting evidence and intelligence suggesting that the\u200b COVID-19 pandemic originated \u2064from a laboratory failure in Wuhan.<\/p>\n<p>It is worth noting that the letter debarring the \u200dWIV&#8217;s funding until July 2033 does not explicitly mention SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19. The HHS has not provided any comment regarding its decision in relation to \u2062the\u2063 pandemic or the ongoing congressional investigation into the WIV and EcoHealth\u2063 Alliance.<\/p>\n<p>House Republicans have been pressuring HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra to address congressional inquiries into the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic. Last\u2062 week, members of the House Oversight and Energy and Commerce Committees \u200bsent \u2063a formal letter threatening to \u200dissue subpoenas if the agency fails to\u2063 provide the requested information regarding communications\u2063 between the NIH, EcoHealth Alliance, and the WIV.<\/p>\n<p>Congress has also\u2062 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/top-republican-demands-transcribed-interviews-with-state-department-officials-on-chaotic-afghanistan-withdrawal\/\" title=\"GOP Leader Requests Transcripts of Interviews on Chaotic Afghanistan Withdrawal.\">requested transcribed interviews<\/a> with various officials at the National Institute for Allergy\u2063 and \u2062Infectious \u2063Diseases,\u200b as well as former NIH director \u200bFrancis Collins and NIH Acting Director \u2063Lawrence Tabak. Collins and Tabak\u2063 are\u200b scheduled to\u2064 testify in December.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;Covering up for the failures of a Chinese lab, hiding critical evidence from the American people, and facilitating the public\u2062 promotion of\u2064 a false, alternative narrative is extremely concerning and deserves thorough investigation,&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Chairman Wenstrup assures that the Select Subcommittee will continue to investigate the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic and the potential cover-up by America&#8217;s public health leaders.<\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> How has the lack \u200bof cooperation and communication from the WIV reinforced concerns about potential \u200chealth risks and unacceptable outcomes?<\/h2>\n<p><span>  Nds for at least a decade,&#8221; said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. &#8220;Their failure to respond to our inquiries and their inability to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hhs-pulls-all-federal-funding-from-wuhan-institute-of-virology\/\" title=\"HHS cuts funding to Wuhan Institute of Virology.\">maintain basic\u200d communication channels demonstrate<\/a> a lack of\u200c accountability and professionalism \u2062that cannot be overlooked.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The decision\u2063 to bar the WIV from federal \u200cfunding \u200dwas not taken lightly and was based on the principle of ensuring public health and safety. The experiments conducted by the institute, which went beyond\u200b the permitted level of viral activity, raised concerns\u200b about potential health risks and unacceptable outcomes. The lack of cooperation from\u2062 the WIV in providing documentation further reinforced these concerns and added to the severity of the decision.<\/p>\n<p>It is important to note that the WIV \u2062had been receiving funding from the U.S. government for several years through a\u2064 grant project in collaboration with the EcoHealth Alliance. This\u2063 partnership aimed \u200dto carry out research on coronaviruses and gain-of-function studies. However, given the recent global pandemic and the potential role of\u200c the WIV in its origins, it is crucial to \u2063reassess and evaluate the \u200drisks associated with such research.<\/p>\n<p>The declassified \u2062report from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence provided some clarity regarding the illness of three lab\u2062 workers at the WIV in late 2019. While their symptoms were similar to those of COVID-19, they were not conclusively \u2062diagnosed with the virus. This finding supports\u2063 the notion \u200bthat the pandemic did not originate from the WIV. However, it is imperative to maintain a vigilant approach\u200c to prevent any future\u200b incidents that could jeopardize public health.<\/p>\n<p>By barring the Wuhan Institute of Virology \u2063from federal funding for \u200ca decade, the\u200c Department of Health and Human Services \u200cis sending a clear message about the importance of accountability and responsible scientific conduct. The lack of communication capabilities exhibited by the WIV, as evidenced by the undeliverable email \u2064notifications, further highlights their disregard for basic protocols and professionalism.<\/p>\n<p>In the interest of\u200c global health security, it is crucial that\u200d all scientific institutions uphold the highest standards of research \u2062and maintain transparent\u200c communication channels. The decision to debar the WIV serves as a reminder that public health should always be the top priority and that any research that poses a risk must\u200b be evaluated and regulated accordingly.<\/p>\n<p>Looking\u200c ahead, it is essential for the international community to work\u2064 together in building a robust framework for overseeing and regulating experiments with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/author-of-retracted-study-on-harm-of-mask-wearing-by-children-says-removal-was-political\/\" title=\"Author of Retracted Study on Harm of Mask-Wearing by Children Says Removal Was \u2018Political\u2019\">potential public health implications<\/a>. This \u200bincludes strict oversight\u200b and accountability mechanisms to prevent any lapses in\u2063 safety and to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/watchdogs-call-for-key-biden-administration-official-to-resign-over-litany-of-abuses-of-public-trust\/\" title=\"Watchdogs demand resignation of key Biden official for 'abusing public trust'.\">maintain public \u200btrust<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>It is also important to emphasize that this decision should not be seen as a reflection of the entire scientific community in \u2064Wuhan or China. Science knows no borders, and collaboration\u200d and cooperation between\u2062 researchers from different countries are essential to \u200cadvancing knowledge and solving global challenges.<\/p>\n<p>As we navigate the uncertain path of emerging infectious diseases and pandemics, it is crucial \u200bto foster a culture of responsibility, transparency, and accountability in the field of virology research. The bar on federal funding to the Wuhan Institute of Virology serves as a\u2062 necessary step towards achieving these goals \u2064and\u200c protecting public health.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Wuhan Institute of Virology has been banned from receiving federal funding for 10 years by the Department of Health and Human Services. This decision was made due to the institute&#8217;s experiments that pose a significant risk to public health. The National Institutes of Health suspects that the institute conducted a highly dangerous viral experiment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2039296,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2039295","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2039295","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2039295"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2039295\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2039296"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2039295"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2039295"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2039295"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}