Outgoing Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard released declassified documents and whistleblower reports alleging Dr. Anthony Fauci funded research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology [1].

The release marks a significant escalation in the long-standing debate over the origins of COVID-19 and the transparency of U.S. public health officials. Because the documents come from the office of the nation's top intelligence official, they may trigger new congressional inquiries into government accountability.

Gabbard released the materials in Washington, D.C., on Friday, May 15, 2026, which served as her final day in office [1, 5]. The documents and reports allege that Dr. Fauci, the former head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, funded gain-of-function research at the Wuhan lab using taxpayer dollars [2, 3].

According to the materials released by Gabbard, Fauci participated in a cover-up of the lab-origin theory and misled Congress under oath regarding his involvement [1, 3]. Gabbard said the release was intended to expose a COVID-19 cover-up, and to inform the public and Congress about alleged misconduct by Fauci [3, 4].

The credibility of these allegations remains a point of contention among observers. Some reports suggest the documents provide evidence that Fauci attempted to hide the origins of the virus [2]. However, other reports describe the claims as part of a right-wing conspiracy machine and note that the allegations have not been independently verified [5].

Gabbard did not provide further commentary on the specific intelligence methods used to obtain the whistleblower reports. The documents now reside in the public domain as part of her resignation announcement [1, 2].

“Gabbard released declassified documents and whistleblower reports alleging Dr. Anthony Fauci funded research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology”

The timing of this release, coinciding with Gabbard's resignation, suggests an attempt to ensure the allegations survive her departure from government. By utilizing declassified intelligence and whistleblower reports, the move shifts the debate from political rhetoric to a question of documented evidence, potentially forcing a legal or congressional review of Dr. Fauci's testimony before Congress.