Tulsi Gabbard EXPOSES Ex-US Chief Medical Adviser Dr Fauci Over Alleged China Funding, COVID Cover-Up And More

Tulsi Gabbard, who stepped down from her role as the United States Director of National Intelligence (DNI), used her final day in office to release what she described as confidential and previously unseen documents related to the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a series of explosive allegations, Gabbard accused former top US health official Dr Anthony Fauci of funding controversial coronavirus research at China's Wuhan Institute of Virology, influencing intelligence assessments about the virus's origins, and misleading Congress about his involvement in discussions surrounding COVID-19.

Sharing a video message on X, Gabbard said, "It's time you know the truth," as she unveiled documents that she claims expose a years-long effort to hide key information from the American public.The allegations have reignited the debate over how the pandemic began and whether information about its origins was intentionally hidden.

Today, on my final day as Director of National Intelligence, I’m releasing never-before-seen communications and documents exposing how Dr. Fauci provided millions in US taxpayer dollars to fund dangerous gain-of-function research at the Wuhan lab, worked with politicized elements… pic.twitter.com/ZMdliW4zyS

— DNI Tulsi Gabbard (@DNIGabbard) June 19, 2026

What Did Tulsi Gabbard Expose?

According to Gabbard, the newly released documents and communications show three major things:

1. Fauci Approved Funding for Wuhan Lab Research

Gabbard claims that while serving as head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Fauci approved millions of dollars in US taxpayer funding for research involving bat coronaviruses at China's Wuhan Institute of Virology.

She said the funding supported "gain-of-function" research, a type of scientific experiment that alters viruses to study how they might become more infectious or dangerous.

According to Gabbard, this research is now widely viewed by some experts as a possible source of the accidental laboratory leak theory linked to the COVID-19 outbreak.

2. Fauci Influenced Intelligence Assessments

One of Gabbard's biggest claims is that Fauci worked closely with intelligence officials and selected scientists to shape the narrative about COVID-19's origins.

She alleged that experts connected to Fauci advised intelligence agencies and pushed support for the theory that the virus emerged naturally from animals rather than from a laboratory.

According to the documents, intelligence assessments often included recommendations from Fauci-linked scientists while alternative viewpoints received less attention.

3. Fauci Misled Congress

Gabbard also accused Fauci of giving inaccurate testimony before Congress in 2024.
She pointed to emails and communications that she says contradict Fauci's statements under oath. During a congressional hearing, Fauci reportedly denied having knowledge of or involvement in discussions with intelligence agencies regarding viral research and COVID-19 origins.

According to Gabbard, the newly released records suggest otherwise.

What Is Gain-of-Function Research?

A major part of Gabbard's allegations revolves around gain-of-function research.
This type of research involves modifying viruses to understand how they spread, mutate or infect people. Scientists say it can help prepare for future outbreaks and support vaccine development.

However, critics argue that such experiments can be dangerous if a virus accidentally escapes from a laboratory.

The Wuhan Institute of Virology has remained at the centre of global attention because Wuhan was the first city where COVID-19 cases were detected in late 2019.

Claims of a COVID-19 Cover-Up

Gabbard alleges that Fauci played three roles during the pandemic.
First, she says he funded the research. Second, he helped guide intelligence and scientific discussions toward a natural-origin explanation. Third, he became one of the most influential public voices during the pandemic while dismissing competing theories.

She accused him of helping create a system that discouraged questions about the lab-leak theory.

According to Gabbard, whistleblowers told her office that analysts who supported alternative explanations faced pressure, intimidation and career setbacks.

Whistleblowers Claim Analysts Faced Retaliation

The documents also include testimony from intelligence community whistleblowers.
According to these accounts, some analysts who questioned official conclusions about the virus's origins were sidelined or warned that their careers could suffer.

One whistleblower claimed a contractor lost their job shortly after raising concerns. Others alleged that managers signalled promotions could be affected if analysts disagreed with leadership's preferred conclusions.

Gabbard said these claims point to a culture where dissenting views were discouraged.

What Do the Documents Actually Prove?

While Gabbard has described the documents as explosive, critics note that many of the issues raised have been discussed publicly for several years.

The released files reportedly contain emails, internal communications and whistleblower testimony. However, many sections remain redacted, and the documents do not provide direct proof that COVID-19 originated from a laboratory.

As a result, the documents are likely to fuel further debate rather than settle the question once and for all.

The COVID-19 Origin Debate Continues

More than six years after the pandemic began, scientists and governments are still divided over how the virus first emerged.

Some experts believe COVID-19 likely spread naturally from animals to humans. Others argue that an accidental leak from a laboratory remains a possibility that deserves further investigation.

Gabbard's latest disclosures have once again placed Anthony Fauci and the Wuhan Institute of Virology at the centre of that debate. While her allegations are significant, the question of COVID-19's true origin remains unresolved, and no global consensus has yet been reached.