US Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard has claimed that newly uncovered intelligence records show the United States government has funded more than 120 biological laboratories across over 30 countries, including Ukraine. According to Gabbard, many of these facilities have conducted research involving dangerous pathogens, while information about their existence and funding was kept hidden from the American public for years.
Gabbard raises questions over global biolab network
In a statement released on Friday, 12th June, after what she described as months of reviewing intelligence files and government records, Gabbard said the Intelligence Community had identified a large network of US-funded biolabs operating around the world. Among them are laboratories located in Ukraine, some of which, she said, could be vulnerable because of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Today, I’m releasing never before seen intelligence revealing new evidence of past US government funding for more than 120 biolabs in over 30 countries, including Ukraine.
— DNI Tulsi Gabbard (@DNIGabbard) June 12, 2026
In support of President Trump‘s Executive Order to end federal funding of dangerous gain of function… pic.twitter.com/RkPHnAbka9
Gabbard pointed to previous intelligence assessments that had warned about the risks surrounding certain US-funded laboratories in Ukraine. According to those assessments, some facilities were believed to store potentially dangerous pathogens and faced the possibility of being damaged, captured, or attacked during the war.
She said that information regarding the locations, funding and activities of many of these laboratories had been deliberately concealed.
According to Gabbard, “The information surrounding the existence, history, locations, and funding of these U.S.-funded biolabs has been intentionally covered up by powerful people falsely claiming that they do not exist and accusing anyone who says otherwise of being foreign assets and traitors to America.”
Concerns over gain-of-function research
Gabbard also claimed that several of these facilities have either previously conducted or are currently conducting research involving highly infectious pathogens. She expressed particular concern over gain-of-function research, a controversial field of study that involves altering viruses or pathogens to better understand how they spread or evolve.
She linked the issue to President Donald Trump’s Executive Order 14292, signed on 25th May 2025, which ended federal funding for gain-of-function research globally.
Criticising previous administrations and public health officials, Gabbard said, “Despite the obvious potential for catastrophic global impact research on dangerous pathogens in biolabs can have, politicians, so-called health professionals like Dr Fauci, and entities within the Biden administration’s national security team lied to the American people about the existence of U.S.-funded and supported biolabs, and threatened those who attempted to expose the truth.”
She added that the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) would continue investigating these facilities and the pathogens being studied there.
Intelligence community asked to increase monitoring
Gabbard said she has issued fresh guidance to US intelligence agencies directing them to collect more information about these overseas laboratories. According to her office, the new effort has already uncovered additional details about clinical trials and research activities being carried out at some of the facilities.
The ODNI believes these findings raise important ethical, financial and national security questions regarding the operation of the laboratories and the projects being conducted within them.
Gabbard recently announced her resignation
The announcement comes just weeks after Tulsi Gabbard revealed that she would step down as Director of National Intelligence. On 22nd May, Gabbard announced that she would resign from the post, with her departure taking effect on 30th June.
In a post on X, Gabbard explained that her decision was driven by personal reasons after her husband, Abraham Williams, was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer. She said she wanted to devote her time to caring for him and supporting her family.
I am deeply grateful for the trust President Trump placed in me and for the opportunity to lead @ODNIgov for the last year and a half.
— Tulsi Gabbard 🌺 (@TulsiGabbard) May 22, 2026
Unfortunately, I must submit my resignation, effective June 30, 2026. My husband, Abraham, has recently been diagnosed with an extremely rare… pic.twitter.com/PS0Dxp5zpd
In her resignation letter to President Donald Trump, Gabbard thanked the administration for the opportunity to serve and highlighted what she described as achievements in improving transparency and restoring integrity within the intelligence community. President Trump later announced that her deputy, Aaron Lukas, would serve as acting DNI until a permanent successor is appointed.
While Gabbard has publicly cited family reasons for her resignation, reports in recent weeks have also speculated about differences between her and sections of the administration, particularly over foreign policy issues.
