Tulsi Gabbard releases explosive COVID-19 documents on her final day as DNI, accusing Dr Fauci of funding risky Wuhan research linked to the pandemic origins that killed millions worldwide
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard released a trove of previously unseen documents on her final day in office, Friday 19 June 2026, accusing Dr Anthony Fauci and US agencies of funding dangerous gain-of-function research at China’s Wuhan Institute of Virology, efforts to suppress the lab-leak theory of COVID-19 origins, and misleading Congress about these activities.
Tulsi Gabbard, serving as the 8th Director of National Intelligence, made the disclosure public through a detailed video statement and accompanying declassified materials.
She claimed the files demonstrate how US taxpayer dollars supported coronavirus research that many now view as the likely source of the virus responsible for the global COVID-19 pandemic, which killed millions worldwide and disrupted economies and societies for years.
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Gabbard stated in her message: “It’s time you know the truth.”
The documents, part of a year-long declassification review, include internal communications that she says show Dr Fauci’s involvement in directing funds through intermediaries like EcoHealth Alliance for bat coronavirus studies and influencing intelligence assessments away from the lab-leak hypothesis.
The release has reignited intense debate over the origins of COVID-19. Proponents of the lab-leak theory point to US-funded research at the Wuhan Institute as a critical factor, arguing that inadequate biosafety protocols and gain-of-function experiments created conditions ripe for an accidental release.
Intelligence assessments remain divided, with some agencies favouring a laboratory incident at moderate confidence and others leaning toward a natural zoonotic spillover.
Dr Anthony Fauci, the former head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, has long denied wrongdoing.
He has maintained that the supported research did not violate US guidelines on gain-of-function studies at the time and that early scientific consensus pointed toward a natural origin.
Defenders emphasise the importance of international scientific collaboration in understanding emerging viruses, while critics highlight potential conflicts of interest and lack of transparency.
This episode reflects deep public frustration over the immense human and economic toll of the COVID-19 pandemic, which held the world down for years through lockdowns, loss of life, and widespread disruption.
It underscores ongoing questions about oversight of high-risk biological research funded by American taxpayers and the need for greater accountability in public health decision-making.
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As the documents circulate, they are likely to fuel further calls for investigations. Whether they lead to additional formal inquiries or legal consequences remains to be seen, but the release has undeniably amplified demands for clarity on how the United States approaches potentially hazardous scientific work that carries global implications.
Oreoluwa is an accountant and a brand writer with a flair for journalism.
