The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has agreed to a Covid Select committee recommendation to initiate official debarment proceedings and impose a government-wide suspension of U.S. taxpayer funds to EcoHealth Alliance Inc., including a halt on all active grants.
Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic Chairman Brad Wenstrup (R-OH) released a statement today, confirming that the HHS has accepted the Select Subcommittee's recommendation to formally debar EcoHealth Alliance, Inc.
“EcoHealth Alliance and Dr. Peter Daszak should never again receive a single penny from the U.S. taxpayer. Only two weeks after the Select Subcommittee released an extensive report detailing EcoHealth’s wrongdoing and recommending the formal debarment of EcoHealth and its president, HHS has begun efforts to cut off all U.S. funding to this corrupt organization. EcoHealth facilitated gain-of-function research in Wuhan, China without proper oversight, willingly violated multiple requirements of its multimillion-dollar National Institutes of Health grant, and apparently made false statements to the NIH. These actions are wholly abhorrent, indefensible, and must be addressed with swift action. EcoHealth’s immediate funding suspension and future debarment is not only a victory for the U.S. taxpayer, but also for American national security and the safety of citizens worldwide.
The Select Subcommittee’s investigation into EcoHealth and the origins of COVID-19 is far from over. Dr. Daszak and his team are still required to produce all outstanding documents and answer the Select Subcommittee’s questions, specifically related to Dr. Daszak’s potential dishonesty under oath. We will hold EcoHealth accountable for any waste, fraud, and abuse and are committed to uncovering any illegal activity, including lying to Congress, NIH, or the Inspector General,” wrote Chairman Wenstrup.
Read the Covid Subcommittee’s report here.
Read the letter from HHS to EcoHealth Alliance, Inc. here.
Read HHS’s action referral memorandum here.
