As of June 20, 2025, a troubling revelation has rocked the biomedical research community: reports confirm that Americans’ DNA has been exported to foreign labs, including those in hostile nations, for genetic engineering as part of clinical trials. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) halted all new trials involving such exports on June 18, citing mounting evidence that participants were not informed about the international transfer and manipulation of their biological material. This scandal underscores the dangers of lax oversight, the risks of globalized research, and the need to prioritize national sovereignty over unvetted international partnerships.
FDA just revealed a shocking oversight: for years, American DNA was sent to labs in China, often without the knowledge of clinical trial participants. 1/4 @abmorrell @ElbridgeColby pic.twitter.com/vJ0YjmPOTR
— David Thompson (@DavidTh29) June 20, 2025
The controversy traces back to a data security rule finalized in December 2024 under the previous administration, which took effect in April 2025. While the rule imposed export controls to limit sensitive data transfers to countries of concern, it included a sweeping exemption allowing U.S. companies to send trial participants’ biological samples—including DNA—to overseas labs, even those with ties to adversarial governments like the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). This exemption, now under intense scrutiny, enabled the shipment of Americans’ genetic material without their full consent, exposing it to potential misuse by foreign entities. The FDA’s decision to suspend these trials reflects growing alarm over the privacy and security risks, with officials noting that the practice may have compromised national security.