SouthernWorldwide.com – Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has released a set of declassified records that shed light on U.S. funding for over 120 biological laboratories situated in more than 30 countries. Gabbard contends that these documents validate concerns previously dismissed as misinformation.
This release follows years of criticism directed at Gabbard for her inquiries into U.S.-funded biolabs in Ukraine. Her concerns were raised in the aftermath of Russia’s 2022 invasion. At the time, critics accused her of echoing Russian talking points, while her supporters argued that legitimate questions about the labs’ operations and oversight were being unfairly disregarded.
The newly unveiled records include briefing slides from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI). These slides detail the extent of American involvement in Ukraine’s laboratory network.
One of the documents indicates that more than 40 laboratories in Ukraine have received U.S. funding. These facilities reportedly house collections of dangerous bacteria and viruses, with some dating back to the Soviet era. The records also reveal that Ukrainian scientists received U.S.-funded training to work with hazardous pathogens. Furthermore, they participated in a program specifically designed for handling particularly dangerous diseases.
The declassified documents list a range of pathogens that were studied or stored within this laboratory network. These include anthrax, tuberculosis, plague, Ebola virus, Marburg virus, MERS, and SARS.
Additional records provide details on U.S.-funded construction and upgrades carried out at laboratories across Ukraine. These projects included facilities located in Kherson, Odesa, and in western Ukraine. The documents identify the engineering firm Black & Veatch as a significant contractor. It is also shown that U.S. taxpayers contributed between approximately $1.7 million and $3.5 million for individual laboratory projects.
One declassified assessment specifically examines a veterinary research laboratory in Kharkiv. This facility had received funding from the Pentagon through the Defense Department’s Biological Threat Reduction Program.
According to this assessment, the Kharkiv laboratory stored hundreds of samples of dangerous pathogens. Among these was Brucella bacteria, which is known to cause a disease called brucellosis. The document expressed concern that the lab could become a target for Russian propaganda or be compromised due to damage or capture during the ongoing conflict.
Another ODNI slide outlines what it describes as a “web of connections.” This network links Ukrainian laboratories with various U.S. government agencies, universities, research organizations, and private contractors. The document states that U.S. funding supported research on bird flu and other highly infectious viruses within high-security laboratory settings.
Gabbard asserted that these documents demonstrate that the public was not provided with a complete understanding of overseas biological research programs supported by the United States. Conversely, critics maintain that these facilities were part of long-standing public health and threat-reduction initiatives. Their purpose, according to this view, was to secure dangerous pathogens and prevent biological proliferation, rather than to operate as programs for biological weapons.
This declassification is expected to reignite discussions surrounding government transparency, gain-of-function research, and the overall scope of U.S.-funded biological research conducted internationally.
