Two weeks ago, I ordered all work to halt at a high biosecurity risk @nih lab located in Frederick, MD. I did this because of a serious incident involving biosafety that had occurred in early March, but which did not cross my desk until weeks later. 🧵1/5 https://www.foxnews.com/politi...
It turns out that a contractor at the lab had deliberately cut a hole in a biocontainment suit over a personal dispute with a co-worker. Researchers are supposed to wear these suits when they do experiments with dangerous pathogens. This is how lab leaks can happen! 🧵2/5
An ongoing investigation revealed a pattern -- going back to the Biden administration -- of safety not taken as seriously as it ought. So with @SecKennedy's blessing, I immediately ordered all work to halt & all dangerous pathogens secured. 🧵3/5
I won't reopen the lab until I am satisfied that that it can be done with zero risk to public safety. No more lab generated pandemics! 🧵4/5 https://www.whitehouse.gov/lab...
One last media note: @WIRED used the incident to somehow paint @SecKennedy as anti-science. He was acting responsibly to protect the public from a high-risk lab with a poor safety record, but they ignored that in their story. Sheesh! 5/5 https://www.wired.com/story/hh...