The report also delves into NIH’s funding and oversight procedures, describing them as deficient and a serious threat to public health and national security. It claims that NIH fostered an environment that encouraged evading federal recordkeeping laws in the lead-up to the pandemic.
Additionally, the report claims that EcoHealth Alliance Inc., led by Dr. Peter Daszak, used U.S. taxpayer dollars to fund gain-of-function research in Wuhan, violating the terms of its NIH grant. In response, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) suspended funding to EcoHealth, and the Department of Justice has launched an investigation into the organization’s activities during the pandemic.
The report also criticizes federal and state COVID-19 relief programs, citing instances of fraud. It claims that the Paycheck Protection Program resulted in $64 billion in fraudulent claims, though this figure is attributed to an op-ed by an FBI special agent rather than an official government source. The report also estimates that fraudulent unemployment claims cost $191 billion, with lapses in oversight costing $200 million.
