Staff Reports
Republican Iowa Senator Joni Ernst recently wrote a letter to the Biden administration asking for confirmation that federal funding for the EcoHealth Alliance organization has been stopped. This organization had been receiving money from the government and giving some of it to the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China, which is suspected to be where the COVID-19 pandemic started. Senator Ernst is concerned about taxpayer dollars being used for research that may have led to a global health crisis.
The Biden administration had paused funding for EcoHealth in May due to concerns about how the organization was handling its research at the Wuhan lab. Senator Ernst specifically reached out to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to verify that funding to EcoHealth had indeed been cut and to push for transparency regarding the data collected by the organization. She emphasized the importance of understanding the origins of the pandemic and preventing similar incidents in the future.
EXCLUSIVE: Joni Ernst Demands Biden Admin Confirm Halt Of Federal Funding To Org Linked To COVID Lab https://t.co/NALmq0OCxR
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) May 31, 2024
Additionally, Senator Ernst directed her letter to other government agencies that had previously provided funding to EcoHealth, such as the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the National Science Foundation. She requested information about past grants and access to experimental data related to bat viruses and pathogens. This shows her commitment to holding organizations accountable for how they use taxpayer money and ensuring transparency in research activities.
Critics and lawmakers have raised concerns about EcoHealth’s ties to the Wuhan Institute and its funding of coronavirus research on bats. During a congressional hearing in May, EcoHealth Director Peter Daszak faced allegations of dishonesty in securing federal funding and mismanagement of projects. It is important for government officials like Senator Ernst to investigate these allegations thoroughly to safeguard taxpayer dollars and prevent any future outbreaks like the COVID-19 pandemic.
Overall, Senator Joni Ernst’s efforts to hold the Biden administration accountable for funding decisions and demand transparency from research organizations like EcoHealth reflect her dedication to ensuring the responsible use of taxpayer money and protecting public health. It is crucial for government agencies to monitor how funds are allocated, and research activities closely are conducted to prevent any potential threats to national and global security.
