A new provision embedded in the 3,100-page National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) would require U.S. intelligence agencies to publicly release classified intelligence regarding the origins of COVID-19.
Specifically, the bill — under Section 6803 — mandates that the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), working alongside agencies such as Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), conduct a full declassification review of all intelligence related to research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) and other Chinese labs, including any “gain-of-function” work, funding sources, and potential Chinese government involvement in pandemic-related cover-ups.
The measure also targets intelligence concerning possible efforts by Chinese authorities to obstruct investigations or suppress information about the outbreak.
If enacted, the provision would publicly release this intelligence, unless material is legitimately withheld for national security or privacy reasons, giving investigators and the public greater insight into the origins of COVID-19.
