Americans remain at risk from deadly, genetically engineered, lab-created pathogens. The COVID-19 pandemic, responsible for the deaths of nearly 1.2 million Americans, likely originated in a laboratory experiment that juiced the lethality and contagiousness of coronaviruses in China. Subsequently, we also learned that National Institutes of Health officials failed to monitor federal grants to institutions in China that were undoubtedly engaged in such viral experimentation to create dangerous pathogens. 

Noting the NIH failures, congressional investigators emphasized the need for another layer of protection. Likewise, in February 2025, we proposed, among other things, that the Trump administration stop funding all such risky biological research, especially overseas. We also argued for a transfer of final authority to approve grants for such research from NIH to an independent commission for final review and approval.

“Such a commission,” we wrote, “should be comprised of top-tier scientific advisors and national security experts free of any government agency biases or private financial interests.” 

Such a policy change is embodied in the bipartisan “Risky Research Review Act” sponsored by Sens. Rand Paul (R-KY) and Gary Peters (D-MI). The focus of their legislation is gain-of-function........

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