Trump Administration Releases New Government-Wide Policy to End Dangerous High-Risk Research

WASHINGTON - JULY 28, 2026 - The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today applauds the release of the Trump Administration's new United States Government Policy for Stopping High-Risk Life Sciences Research. This comprehensive framework prohibits federally supported dangerous gain-of-function (DGOF) research while establishing stronger oversight for life sciences research that could pose significant risks to public health, biosecurity, or national security. The policy fulfills President Trump's Executive Order aimed at improving the safety and security of biological research, and it ensures that taxpayer-funded research advances scientific discovery and medical innovation without exposing Americans to biological risks.

"The federal government has a duty to protect the American people-not fund research that could put them at risk," said HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. "Today, we are ending federal support for dangerous gain-of-function research and replacing weak oversight with clear, enforceable safeguards. This policy delivers on President Trump's commitment to put safety first while ensuring America remains the global leader in ethical, responsible, and lifesaving biomedical research."

Specifically, the new policy prohibits federal support for dangerous gain-of-function research conducted in the United States and abroad, establishes rigorous independent review for certain high-risk life sciences research, and restricts federal funding for research conducted in countries or institutions that lack appropriate biosafety, biosecurity, and oversight standards. At the same time, the policy preserves critical biomedical research - including the development of vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics, and other medical countermeasures - under strong safety and security safeguards.

The policy replaces previous federal oversight frameworks with a unified, risk-based approach focused on the potential consequences of research rather than a limited list of pathogens. It establishes clear responsibilities for researchers, research institutions, and federal agencies to identify, assess, and manage the highest-risk life sciences research before taxpayer dollars are awarded.

"This policy reflects a fundamental principle of science: the pursuit of knowledge must be matched by a commitment to responsibility," saidNIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya. "The overwhelming majority of biomedical research provides enormous benefits to society, and this framework helps ensure that research with the potential to create extraordinary biological risks receives the highest level of scrutiny. It protects scientific innovation while strengthening public trust that federally supported research is conducted safely, transparently, and in the best interests of the American people."

The United States also is calling on international partners to strengthen biosafety and biosecurity standards and join the effort to end dangerous gain-of-function research that could threaten global health and security. By establishing clear guardrails for federally supported research, the new policy reinforces America's leadership in responsible science while protecting the health, safety, and security of future generations.

The United States Government Policy for Stopping High-Risk Life Sciences Research is available here.