Rand Paul Asks Samantha Power- Did USAID Fund Coronavirus Research In Wuhan China

In April 2023, during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, Senator Rand Paul questioned USAID Administrator Samantha Power about the agency's involvement in funding research related to coronaviruses in Wuhan, China. Senator Paul presented evidence suggesting that USAID, through its Predict program, had funded research that involved gain-of-function experiments on coronaviruses at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. He cited a 2015 study co-authored by researchers from the Wuhan Institute and Dr. Ralph Baric of the University of North Carolina, which was supported by USAID's Predict program via EcoHealth Alliance. This study involved creating chimeric viruses by combining SARS virus backbones with spike proteins from other viruses, a process that some experts consider gain-of-function research due to its potential to increase transmissibility or virulence.

Administrator Power responded by stating that USAID had not authorized gain-of-function research and was not aware of the specific study Senator Paul referenced. She emphasized that the agency had not funded gain-of-function research and would not do so in the future. However, Senator Paul expressed concerns about the potential risks associated with such research and the lack of transparency regarding USAID's involvement.

This exchange highlights ongoing debates about the U.S. government's role in funding research abroad, particularly in relation to gain-of-function experiments, and the need for transparency and oversight in such funding decisions.

For a detailed account of the hearing, you can refer to the official transcript:
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CHRG-118shrg57034/html/CHRG-118shrg57034.htm?utm_source=chatgpt.com