U.S. Pathogen Rules Leave 3 Major Gaps Despite New 2026 Curbs
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Aug 17
U.S. Pathogen Rules Leave 3 Major Gaps Despite New 2026 Curbs
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Aug 17
Summary
July 2026 U.S. rules on risky pathogen research are stronger on paper but still leave three major gaps—private funding, enforcement authority and virus-hunting work abroad—according to Dr. Chan.
5 years of federal-funding ineligibility can hit institutions that fail to report dangerous work, yet agencies still decide whether to follow the new review body's advice and scientists initially self-identify risky proposals.
Nearly $8 billion a year in NIH infectious-disease funding is not backed by a systematic sweep of dangerous projects, and a 2024 inspector general found the Pentagon could not fully track pathogen-enhancing funding to Chinese labs.
Fort Detrick's roughly 6-month shutdown after a sabotaged protective suit and safety violations, alongside Wuhan bat coronavirus work done below top containment, are cited as evidence that current oversight relies too heavily on individual judgment.
A Senate committee cleared the Risky Research Review Act 11-2 with $30 million a year for an independent agency, but Chan argues only Congress can create a durable regulator modeled on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.