Story perspectives

Trump Administration Cuts Biosecurity Team, Boosts Biosecurity Efforts

8/18/2026

Summary

Story summary

U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration is boosting biosecurity after cutting the 30-person White House biosecurity team.
The administration revoked a 2023 AI bio-safeguard order, questioned a 2024 genetic-screening requirement, and has not issued the order Trump requested for August 2025.
The administration reopened the Office of Pandemic Preparedness in spring after Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
A COVID-19 vaccine leader now serves at the Pentagon developing AI defenses.

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Story summary

U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration is boosting biosecurity after cutting the 30-person White House biosecurity team.
The administration revoked a 2023 AI bio-safeguard order, questioned a 2024 genetic-screening requirement, and has not issued the order Trump requested for August 2025.
The administration reopened the Office of Pandemic Preparedness in spring after Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
A COVID-19 vaccine leader now serves at the Pentagon developing AI defenses.