Official announcement or press release from the USDA or EcoHealth Alliance.

USDA Prepared to Grant $2.5 Million to EcoHealth Alliance for Wuhan Research Before Funding Suspension, Says Senator Joni Ernst

Dec 18, 2024, 09:13 PM

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) was poised to award a $2.5 million grant to EcoHealth Alliance, a nonprofit involved in controversial coronavirus research in Wuhan, China, shortly before the federal government halted funding for the organization. Senator Joni Ernst criticized the decision, likening funding for EcoHealth's cross-species virus experiments to enabling dangerous behavior, and urged federal agencies to prioritize preventing pandemic threats rather than creating new pathogens. This funding decision has drawn scrutiny amidst ongoing debates about the safety and oversight of such research.