{"id":2245234,"date":"2024-05-15T15:21:01","date_gmt":"2024-05-15T19:21:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hhs-strips-ecohealth-alliance-of-federal-funds-over-reckless-coronavirus-research\/"},"modified":"2024-05-15T15:24:13","modified_gmt":"2024-05-15T19:24:13","slug":"hhs-strips-ecohealth-alliance-of-federal-funds-over-reckless-coronavirus-research","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hhs-strips-ecohealth-alliance-of-federal-funds-over-reckless-coronavirus-research\/","title":{"rendered":"HHS Removes Federal Funding from EcoHealth Alliance for COVID Research"},"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\">20<\/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-strips-ecohealth-alliance-of-federal-funds-over-reckless-coronavirus-research%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=2245234&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--><p>The\u2062 Department of\u2064 Health and Human Services (HHS) has \u2062<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hhs-suspends-funding-from-organization-that-funded-wuhan-virus-research\/\" title=\"HHS halts funding for group behind Wuhan virus study\">suspended federal funding<\/a> for \u2064EcoHealth Alliance due to transparency issues in \u200dcoronavirus research in Wuhan, China. The suspension \u200cis based on non-compliance with federal regulations. The organization conducted \u200bresearch funded by U.S. taxpayer money, leading to the suspension and potential debarment. The \u2062Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has\u200b halted federal\u2062 funding for EcoHealth Alliance over transparency concerns in coronavirus research in Wuhan, China. The \u2064suspension arose from violations of federal regulations. The organization&#8217;s research, funded by U.S. taxpayers, has resulted in the suspension and possible debarment.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<div>\n<div>\n<figure>                         <\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>On Tuesday, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) formally suspended federal funding for EcoHealth Alliance and recommended it face debarment for its lack of transparency and reckless handling of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/rand-paul-warns-nih-not-to-destroy-documents-ahead-of-potential-fauci-grilling\/\" title=\"Rand Paul Warns NIH Not To Destroy Documents Ahead Of Potential Fauci Grilling\">coronavirus-related research<\/a> in Wuhan, China. With U.S. taxpayer dollars five years ago and earlier, EcoHealth Alliance funded Chinese research into worsening viruses linked to the Covid-19 outbreak, <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2023\/06\/14\/us-taxpayers-funded-2-million-for-research-in-wuhan-report\/\">according to federal reports<\/a> and independent reporting.<\/p>\n<p>In a <a href=\"https:\/\/oversight.house.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Tab-1-EHA-SUSP4D-Notice_5.15.2024_signed.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">letter<\/a> released Wednesday, Henrietta Brisbon, HHS\u2019s suspension and debarment official, informed EcoHealth President <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/peter-daszak\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Peter Daszak<\/a> that the federal government is suspending funds to EcoHealth and proposing the organization be debarred \u201cfrom participating in United States Federal Government procurement and nonprocurement programs.\u201d The suspension and debarment recommendation took effect on Tuesday. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cI have determined that there is adequate evidence to document that [EcoHealth Alliance] has not been compliant with federal regulations and grant terms and conditions, which affects EHA\u2019s present responsibility,\u201d Brisbon wrote in the agency\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/oversight.house.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Tab-2-EHA-SUSP4D-ARM_05.15.2024_signed.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">action referral<\/a> against EHA. <\/p>\n<p>As Helen Raleigh <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2023\/02\/28\/fauci-and-ecohealths-peter-daszak-silenced-lab-leak-conspiracy-theory-congress-shouldnt-let-them-forget-it\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">reported<\/a> at The Federalist, <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/ecohealth-alliance\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">EcoHealth Alliance<\/a> is a nongovernmental organization that from 2014-2020, sent \u201cmore than half a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/report-brazilian-military-bought-35000-viagra-pills-744000-worth-of-penile-implants\/\" title=\"Report: Brazilian Military Bought 35,000 Viagra Pills, 4,000-Worth of Penile Implants\">million dollars\u2019 worth<\/a> of U.S. government grants, including those from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) with Anthony Fauci\u2019s approval, to the Wuhan Institute of Virology to conduct gain-of-function research on bat coronaviruses.\u201d While Trump\u2019s administration <a href=\"https:\/\/abcnews.go.com\/Politics\/trump-admin-pulls-nih-grant-coronavirus-research-ties\/story?id=70418101\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">axed<\/a> taxpayer funds for EcoHealth Alliance in 2020, the group has <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2022\/10\/05\/disgraced-ecohealth-alliance-should-be-banished-to-wuhan-but-fauci-just-gave-it-millions-more-tax-dollars\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">received<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.whitecoatwaste.org\/2024\/04\/30\/ecohealth-just-raked-in-another-4m-in-tax-money-days-before-congressional-hearing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">federal grants<\/a> since Joe Biden was sworn into office.<\/p>\n<p>In its referral, HHS <a href=\"https:\/\/oversight.house.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Tab-2-EHA-SUSP4D-ARM_05.15.2024_signed.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">cited<\/a> \u201cadequate evidence\u201d documenting what the agency contended \u201cprovides cause\u201d for EcoHealth\u2019s funding suspension and potential debarment. Among the examples included are EHA\u2019s alleged failure \u201cto adequately monitor the virus growth in [the Wuhan Institute of Virology\u2019s] experiments\u201d and \u201cnotify the [National Institute of Health] that the WIV viruses appeared to grow beyond permissible thresholds under the grant\u2019s terms and conditions.\u201d The agency also cited the organization\u2019s failure to forfeit information requested by the federal government and its delay in submitting a required progress report on time. <\/p>\n<figure>\n<p><span><\/p>\n<blockquote data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">This is a long overdue step. Unethical scientists, funded by bureaucrats with a God complex, conducted dangerous experiments that likely initiated the pandemic. Next, we need reforms at the NIH and international action to prevent future abuses of the public trust. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/o7nwlP9kCH\">https:\/\/t.co\/o7nwlP9kCH<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Jay Bhattacharya (@DrJBhattacharya) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/DrJBhattacharya\/status\/1790766438804045891?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">May 15, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><\/span> <\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p>These allegations were further explored in a <a href=\"https:\/\/oversight.house.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/2024.05.01-SSCP-Report_FINAL.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">report<\/a> issued by House Republicans on the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic earlier this month. As laid out in the analysis, federal grant recipients such as EcoHealth must submit progress reports to their funding agency. These records provide the designated department with \u201cupdates on the progress of the work funded by the grant and any anticipated changes in the research approach or direction going into the next funding year.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>According to the GOP report and now HHS, EcoHealth submitted its year five progress report to NIH on Aug. 3, 2021 \u2014 nearly two years after the required Sept. 30, 2019, deadline. While testifying before Congress earlier this month, Daszak <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2024\/05\/02\/5-takeaways-from-peter-daszaks-testimony-on-u-s-funded-coronavirus-research\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">claimed<\/a> that EcoHealth attempted to submit the required report but was unable to do so because it got \u201clocked out\u201d of the NIH system. As noted in the report, however, a forensic audit conducted by NIH \u201ccould not verify the claim.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Daszak contended that his team reached out to the agency\u2019s tech support division via phone but received no response and did not bother contacting the \u201crelevant grant officer\u201d at NIAID about the matter. As noted in the report, these claims appear to contradict actions Daszak took when <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/5-takeaways-from-peter-daszaks-testimony-on-u-s-funded-coronavirus-research\/\" title=\"Key Points from Peter Daszak's Testimony on U.S.-Funded COVID Research\">submitting previous progress reports<\/a>. In those cases, he would send an email to the grant officer after uploading such analyses to the NIH system.<\/p>\n<p>Brisbon <a href=\"https:\/\/oversight.house.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Tab-1-EHA-SUSP4D-Notice_5.15.2024_signed.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">informed<\/a> Daszak on Tuesday that \u201c[d]ebarment is generally for a period not to exceed three years\u201d but added that she \u201cmay impose debarment for a longer period or shorter period as the circumstances warrant.\u201d If deemed punishable, EcoHealth\u2019s length of debarment \u201cwill be based on the seriousness of the cause for debarment\u201d and would not be announced until after such a penalty is imposed, according to Brisbon. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cEcoHealth Alliance and Dr. Peter Daszak should never again receive a single penny from the U.S. taxpayer,\u201d Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic Chairman Brad Wenstrup, R-Ohio, said in a <a href=\"https:\/\/oversight.house.gov\/release\/breaking-hhs-suspends-funding-and-proposes-formal-debarment-of-ecohealth-alliance-cites-evidence-from-covid-select-report\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">statement<\/a>. \u201c\u2026EcoHealth\u2019s immediate funding suspension and future debarment is not only a victory for the U.S. taxpayer, but also for American national security and the safety of citizens worldwide.\u201d<\/p>\n<hr>\n<p>      Shawn Fleetwood is a staff writer for The Federalist and a graduate of the University of Mary Washington. He previously served as a state content writer for Convention of States Action and his work has been featured in numerous outlets, including RealClearPolitics, RealClearHealth, and Conservative Review. Follow him on Twitter @ShawnFleetwood<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has suspended federal funding for EcoHealth Alliance and proposed debarment due to transparency issues and risky coronavirus research in Wuhan, China. EcoHealth Alliance, previously funded by U.S. taxpayer money, conducted Chinese research on enhancing dangerous viruses<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":539,"featured_media":2245235,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Novel_Coronavirus_SARS-CoV-2_50047466323.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[546],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2245234","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-federalist"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Novel_Coronavirus_SARS-CoV-2_50047466323.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2245234","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\/539"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2245234"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2245234\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2245235"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2245234"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2245234"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2245234"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}