Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., told Newsmax on Thursday that gain-of-function research "is worse, way more dangerous than nuclear warheads are."
On Wednesday, Marshall introduced legislation along with Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., to ban the practice of altering the function of an organism to increase aspects such as transmissibility and potency by various means.
"The era of unaccountable taxpayer-funded science done in the name of 'global health' needs to end," Marshall said in a news release.
"This bill would ban any federal funding for gain-of-function research, no matter what or how Anthony Fauci wants to describe it," Marshall told "Newsline," referring to the former head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. "And remember, this viral gain-of-function was Anthony Fauci's pet project for over 20 years. We spent, I'm going to say, $20 [billion] to $50 billion on this research helping the Chinese. They ended up developing the COVID virus, which killed 10 [million], 20 million people across the world.
"We've never seen any gain at all from this gain-of-function research. It's never helped mankind. It's worse, way more dangerous than nuclear warheads are."
Marshall said the practice is impossible to be completely safe and the results are more likely to be used as a weapon.
"You know, every three or five years, we hear about a virus escaping from a laboratory," he said. "Even in America, they're very hard to contain. Even in a biosecurity Level 4 lab. And we certainly don't need to be teaching our enemies how to grow these viruses, which are perfect for terrorist weapons."
GET TODAY NEWSMAX+:
NEWSMAX is the fastest-growing cable news channel in America with more than 30 million people watching!
Reuters Institute reports NEWSMAX is one of the top news brands in the U.S.
You need to watch NEWSMAX today.
Get it with great shows from Rob Schmitt, Greta Van Susteren, Greg Kelly, Carl Higbie, Rob Finnerty – and many more!
Find the NEWSMAX channel on your cable system – Go Here Now
BEST OFFER:
Sign up for NEWSMAX+ and get NEWSMAX, our streaming channel NEWSMAX2 and our military channel World at War.
Find hundreds of shows, movies and specials.
Even get Jon Voight's special series and President Trump's comedy programs and much more!
Watch NEWSMAX+ on your smartphone or home TV app.
Watch NEWSMAX anytime, anywhere!
Start your FREE trial now: NewsmaxPlus.com
James Morley III ✉
James Morley III is a writer with more than two decades of experience in entertainment, travel, technology, and science and nature.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.