On her final day as Director of National Intelligence (DNI) on June 19, 2026, Tulsi Gabbard released what she described as "never-before-seen" classified documents. These materials contain explosive allegations against Dr. Anthony Fauci, claiming he funded dangerous gain-of-function research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, manipulated US intelligence assessments regarding COVID-19's origins, and provided false testimony to Congress in 2024.
Gabbard announced the document release via a post on X (formerly Twitter) and an accompanying video statement, asserting that the American public deserves "transparency, truth, and accountability" after years of alleged cover-ups.
Fauci's Alleged Three Roles in a Cover-Up
The declassified documents, resulting from a year-long review under a "maximum transparency mandate," suggest Dr. Fauci leveraged his influence within the intelligence community to shield himself from scrutiny. Gabbard outlined three overlapping roles Fauci allegedly played:
- Funding Dangerous Research: As head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Fauci is accused of directing millions in US taxpayer dollars towards high-risk gain-of-function research on bat coronaviruses at the Wuhan Institute of Virology. This research, Gabbard stated, is "now widely viewed as the source of the unintentional lab leak that sparked the pandemic."
- Manipulating Intelligence Assessments: Fauci allegedly acted as a behind-the-scenes advisor, guiding hand-picked experts to push the intelligence community towards endorsing a natural, animal-origin narrative for the virus. This reportedly steered official assessments away from the lab-leak hypothesis and, consequently, away from scrutiny of his own funding decisions.
- Dominant Public Voice: He allegedly used his prominent public platform to disseminate what Gabbard characterized as "lies, disinformation, and censorship," shaping public perception of the pandemic.
The "Circular Reporting Loop"
According to hundreds of emails reviewed during the declassification process, the intelligence community frequently incorporated Fauci's recommendations. The documents claim he promoted a "fraudulent paper," which he helped facilitate for publication, as legitimate information for intelligence consideration. Senior analysts reportedly lauded Fauci as "an unbiased guide to the real coronavirus experts," while deliberately excluding dissenting scientists.
"Fauci provided hand-picked NIAID-funded scientists to advise the intelligence community, their input shaped official assessments, and those assessments were then publicly cited as scientific consensus to counter the lab-leak theory."
— Tulsi Gabbard
This, Gabbard alleged, created a self-serving circular loop where Fauci's influence dictated both the research and its interpretation by intelligence agencies, which then reinforced his public narrative.
Allegations of Lying to Congress
One of the most legally serious claims in Gabbard's release concerns Fauci's 2024 testimony before the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic. Under oath, Fauci was questioned about his communications with US intelligence agencies regarding viral research before, during, or after the pandemic. He reportedly stated, "not to my knowledge about COVID." The newly released documents, Gabbard asserts, directly contradict this sworn testimony, alleging Fauci was in regular communication with intelligence officials on these very matters.
Whistleblowers Face Retaliation
The declassification review also gathered testimony from multiple intelligence community whistleblowers who reported severe retaliation for challenging the official narrative on COVID-19's origins. Gabbard confirmed she has referred these accounts to the Intelligence Community's Inspector General. The whistleblower testimonies describe a hostile environment, including a contractor's termination shortly after speaking out and analysts being warned that advocating for the lab-leak hypothesis would jeopardize their careers. Allegedly, anonymity protections were removed from whistleblower complaints, and managers or attorneys were insisted upon at meetings, fostering an "atmosphere of intimidation."
Gabbard's Call for Accountability
In her closing statement, Gabbard underscored the immense suffering caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. She accused "politicized self-serving leaders like Dr. Fauci" of covering up wrongdoing, manipulating intelligence, lying to Congress, and undermining a duly elected President by restricting access to vital facts. Gabbard urged the American people to learn the "real story."
As of the time of this report, Dr. Anthony Fauci has not publicly responded to the allegations or the release of the documents. The classified materials are reportedly accessible via the ODNI's official release portal.