RFK Jr.'S HHS Orders Lab Studying Deadly Infectious Diseases to Stop Research

a year ago

The US National Institutes of Health's Integrated Research Facility in Frederick, Maryland, was instructed to halt research activities by the Trump administration's HHS.
The facility, which studies high-consequence infectious diseases like Ebola, was told to stop all experimental work by April 29 at 5 pm.
Research on Lassa fever, SARS-CoV-2, and Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) was terminated, though animal studies continue without euthanasia.
Department of Homeland Security representatives padlocked freezers in biosafety-level-4 (BSL-4) labs, which handle highly dangerous microbes.
The facility's director, Connie Schmaljohn, was placed on administrative leave; she has a significant background in infectious disease research.
NIH confirmed the research pause, citing personnel issues compromising safety culture, with no reopening date provided.
The pause follows broader layoffs across federal health agencies, part of a restructuring plan by Trump's 'Department of Government Efficiency.'

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