NIH Halts Operations at US Biolab After Shocking Sabotage Incident, Sparking Safety Concerns

Dr. Jay Bhattacharya made the announcement on X

by Sharyl Attkisson, May 08, 2025  (excerpts)

On May 7, 2025, Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, head of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced a complete halt to operations at the U.S. Biosafety Level 4 (BSL-4) Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick, Maryland. That following a shocking alleged act of sabotage.

Bhattacharya revealed the decision in a detailed thread on his X account (@NIHDirector_Jay).

He explained that he learned a contractor at the lab deliberately cut a hole in a co-worker’s biocontainment suit during a personal dispute, compromising critical safety protocols.

The incident, reportedly happened in early March but Bhattacharya says he did not learn of it until weeks later.

The Fort Detrick facility is part of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) at NIH which was for years run by Dr. Anthony Fauci. It’s one of the few high-security labs in North America designed to handle deadly pathogens such as Ebola, MERS, and avian influenza.

According to Bhattacharya’s post, the sabotage incident is part of a broader pattern of safety lapses at the lab, with issues dating back to the Biden administration. Sources familiar with the matter, as reported by Fox News, noted additional incidents in November 2024 and March 2025, pointing to a "poor culture of safety" that has persisted for years. The FBI has since launched an investigation into the security violations, highlighting concerns over the lab’s handling of select agents—pathogens with potential bioweapons applications.

Adding to the controversy, Richard H. Ebright, a prominent microbiologist and biosafety advocate, commented on X on May 7, 2025, noting that the lab’s operations are managed by Laulima Government Solutions, a Native Hawaiian LLC based in an office park in Orlando, Florida. The company oversees the facility under a $116 million minority-set-aside contract, a detail Ebright criticized as raising questions about proper oversight for such a high-risk operation….

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BREG: Laulima Government Solutions

BREG: ALAKA`INA FOUNDATION