Fauci’s Inner Circle Shielded U.S. Collaborator at Wuhan Lab Amid COVID-19 Scrutiny

Emails and congressional testimony have revealed that Dr. Anthony Fauci’s team at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) worked behind the scenes to protect EcoHealth Alliance, a U.S.-based non-profit that collaborated with the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV), from scrutiny during the COVID-19 pandemic. EcoHealth's involvement in controversial gain-of-function research at the Wuhan lab has been a focal point of the investigation into the virus's origins.

EcoHealth, led by Peter Daszak, was conducting research that involved modifying bat coronaviruses to increase their potential to infect humans. This research was partially funded by grants from NIAID, under Fauci’s supervision. As the pandemic spread globally, scrutiny over the potential lab-leak theory intensified, leading to questions about the role of EcoHealth and its ties to the Wuhan lab. Despite mounting pressure, Fauci’s inner circle took steps to protect EcoHealth from losing its funding and avoid further investigations.

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Records show that Fauci’s staff, including senior advisors like Dr. David Morens and virologist Jeffrey Taubenberger, maintained close communication with Daszak. They assured him that NIAID would act as an advocate, even as questions arose about EcoHealth’s role in the research that may have contributed to the pandemic.

In fact, despite concerns about the origins of the virus, Daszak continued to receive new grants from NIAID. Two new research awards totaling nearly $20 million were granted to EcoHealth in 2020, even as other officials sought more transparency about the Wuhan lab's research​.

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These internal communications reflect the reluctance of some NIAID officials to challenge or scrutinize EcoHealth’s work. Emails between NIAID staff and Daszak revealed a shared concern over how the Trump administration might target EcoHealth, particularly in light of the growing push to investigate the lab-leak theory. In one email, Daszak expressed fear that the new grants could be revoked under pressure from the White House​.

Further complicating the issue, some NIAID officials, like Morens, referred to those questioning gain-of-function research as "Luddites" and dismissed concerns about the controversial studies being conducted in Wuhan. However, other federal agencies, including the Department of Energy and the FBI, have since concluded that a lab leak is a plausible explanation for the pandemic's origins​.

The revelations about Fauci’s involvement in shielding EcoHealth have sparked outrage, particularly among conservative lawmakers. Senator Rand Paul has been one of the most vocal critics, accusing Fauci of downplaying the risks associated with gain-of-function research and misleading Congress about the NIH’s role in funding such studies. Fauci has denied these accusations, arguing that the research funded by the NIH did not meet the official definition of gain-of-function research, as outlined by federal regulations​.

These findings add to the growing body of evidence suggesting that some officials within the U.S. government may have deliberately withheld information about the origins of COVID-19. They also raise serious questions about the transparency and accountability of government-funded research, especially research involving dangerous pathogens. As investigations into the origins of COVID-19 continue, the role of EcoHealth Alliance and its collaboration with the Wuhan lab will remain a key point of contention.