🕷️ Crawler Inspector

URL Lookup

Direct Parameter Lookup

Raw Queries and Responses

1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 83 (from laksa189)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa083.int.ahrefs:8124/' \
  -H 'Content-Type: text/plain' \
  -H 'X-ClickHouse-Database: crawler3' \
  -H 'Authorization: Basic YXBpOg==' \
  -d 'SELECT getAhrefsURLFromUnparsed(src_unparsed) AS found_url, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(download_stamp), 0) AS crawl_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(props_url_first_seen), 0) AS first_indexed_time, download_http_code AS http_code, src_unparsed AS src_unparsed, src_root_hash AS src_root_hash, history_drop_reason AS history_drop_reason, meta_title AS meta_title, meta_descriptions AS meta_descriptions, attrs_boilerpipe_text AS attrs_boilerpipe_text, attrs_markdown AS attrs_markdown, attrs_readable_markdown AS attrs_readable_markdown, meta_canonical AS meta_canonical FROM crawler3.page_info_local FINAL PREWHERE (src_root_hash, src_unparsed) IN ((getAhrefsRootHashFromUnparsed(getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://qazinform.com/news/did-usaid-funding-contribute-to-covid-19-lab-leak-214f65\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://qazinform.com/news/did-usaid-funding-contribute-to-covid-19-lab-leak-214f65\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/qazinform.com\/news\/did-usaid-funding-contribute-to-covid-19-lab-leak-214f65","crawl_time":1775927791,"first_indexed_time":1745786488,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"com,qazinform!\/news\/did-usaid-funding-contribute-to-covid-19-lab-leak-214f65 s443","src_root_hash":"8919374307339799683","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"Did USAID funding contribute to COVID-19 lab leak?","meta_descriptions":["The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has played a key role in global health initiatives, particularly through its PREDICT program, launched in 2009, according to a Kazinform News Agency correspondent."],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"This program aimed to identify and monitor pathogens with pandemic potential by funding research institutions like EcoHealth Alliance.\nEcoHealth Alliance collaborated with the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) in China to study bat coronaviruses, collecting samples to assess their potential to infect humans. The goal was to prevent pandemics by identifying dangerous viruses before they could spread widely.\nHowever, after the emergence of COVID-19, scrutiny increased regarding these collaborations. Some suggested that research at WIV could have played a role in the pandemic’s origins. While no conclusive evidence supports the theory that SARS-CoV-2 leaked from a lab, investigations by the World Health Organization (WHO) and other international bodies are ongoing.\nPolitical and governmental fallout\nIn January 2025, President Donald Trump ordered a near-total freeze on foreign aid. Shortly after, Elon Musk announced that he and Trump were in the process of permanently shutting down USAID. Employees were instructed not to report to work, and USAID headquarters in Washington, D.C., closed except for essential personnel. Musk called USAID a “criminal organization” while Trump described it as an organization “run by radical lunatics.”\nPhoto credit: Wikipedia\nTheir alliance has led to dramatic restructuring within government agencies, with Musk gaining influence through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).\nCritics argue that USAID is a tool of U.S. foreign policy, influencing global affairs under the guise of humanitarian aid. According to Mike Benz, a former State Department official, USAID is more than just an aid agency—it is a “linchpin of America’s global influence” connecting the State Department, the Pentagon, and the Intelligence Community. Its mission, he argues, is to align foreign institutions with U.S. interests rather than provide purely humanitarian assistance.\nThe COVID-19 origins investigation and USAID’s role\nA House of Representatives committee investigating the COVID-19 pandemic released a\nreport\non December 2, 2024, concluding that SARS-CoV-2 likely leaked from a Wuhan lab rather than occurring naturally. The Republican-led Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic conducted over 30 interviews, reviewed 1 million pages of documents, and scrutinized the role of U.S. science agencies, including NIAID (National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases).\nThe 520-page report claims that WIV conducted “gain-of-function” research using NIAID funding to modify coronaviruses. It also revealed that the Department of Justice (DOJ) had convened a grand jury to investigate potential crimes related to COVID-19’s origin. Documents were subpoenaed from EcoHealth Alliance, though the nonprofit denied being a target of any DOJ probe.\nDemocrats on the panel released a counter-report disputing these claims, arguing that the viruses studied at WIV were too distantly related to SARS-CoV-2 to be responsible for the pandemic. They also defended Dr. Anthony Fauci, who had been accused of downplaying the possibility of a lab leak.\nFurther supporting concerns about U.S. funding for research at WIV, a document obtained via FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) by White Coat Waste Project confirmed that Ben Hu, a researcher at WIV, received over $10.6 million from NIAID and $38 million from USAID’s PREDICT-2 program for bat coronavirus research. The funding was directed through EcoHealth Alliance and UC Davis, with USAID funding ending in 2019, just before the COVID-19 outbreak. This raises concerns about U.S. involvement in virus research at WIV and its potential link to the pandemic.\nUSAID’s shutdown and the global impact\nAccording to the statement from USAID, on Friday, February 7, 2025, all USAID direct-hire personnel worldwide will be placed on administrative leave, except for those designated for mission-critical tasks. USAID, in coordination with the State Department, will arrange return travel to the U.S. within 30 days for employees stationed overseas and terminate contracts deemed non-essential.\nUSAID shutdown weakens U.S. leverage in foreign policy\nThe shutdown of USAID has sparked intense debate. Democratic Senator Chris Murphy called it “the total destruction of an agency that has saved countless lives and advanced American interests for decades.” Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez warned that allowing “an unelected billionaire” to control U.S. foreign policy poses “a grave national security risk.”\nEven some Republicans are concerned, noting that USAID has been critical in stabilizing regions vulnerable to terrorism and conflict. Experts warn that with the dismantling of USAID, the United States risks losing an essential tool of soft power.\nIn addition to shutting down USAID, it was earlier\nreported\nthat Donald Trump had signed an executive order withdrawing the United States from the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).","attrs_markdown":"![](https:\/\/mc.yandex.ru\/watch\/381728)\n\n[Kazinform International News Agency](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/)\n\n- [Kazakhstan](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/category\/regions_s20508\/)\n- [President](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/tag\/president_t001\/)\n  - [Regions](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/category\/regions_s20508\/)\n  - [Society](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/category\/society_s20077\/)\n  - [Law and Order](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/category\/law-and-order_c333\/)\n  - [Culture](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/category\/culture_s20605\/)\n  - [Sport](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/category\/sport_s20615\/)\n- [Politics](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/category\/politics_s20070\/)\n  - [President](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/category\/president_s20084\/)\n  - [Government](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/category\/government_s20086\/)\n  - [Parliament](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/category\/parliament_s20085\/)\n  - [International Relations](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/category\/international-relations_c344\/)\n- [Economy](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/category\/economy_s20082\/)\n- [Analytics](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/category\/analytics_s24982\/)\n- [World](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/category\/around-the-world_c316\/)\n  - [Central Asia](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/category\/central-asia_c311\/)\n  - [Eurasia](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/category\/eurasia_c312\/)\n  - [Middle East](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/category\/middle-east_c313\/)\n  - [America](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/category\/americas_c314\/)\n  - [Africa](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/category\/africa_c315\/)\n- [Incidents](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/category\/incidents_s23287\/)\n\nEN\n\n- [KZ](https:\/\/kaz.inform.kz\/)\n- [QZ](https:\/\/qz.inform.kz\/)\n- [РУ](https:\/\/www.inform.kz\/)\n- [EN](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/)\n- [中文](https:\/\/cn.inform.kz\/)\n- [ЎЗ](https:\/\/oz.inform.kz\/)\n- [ق ز](https:\/\/ar.inform.kz\/)\n\n[kz](https:\/\/kaz.inform.kz\/)\n\n[qz](https:\/\/qz.inform.kz\/)\n\n[ру](https:\/\/www.inform.kz\/)\n\n[en](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/)\n\n[中文](https:\/\/cn.inform.kz\/)\n\n[ўз](https:\/\/oz.inform.kz\/)\n\n[ق ز](https:\/\/ar.inform.kz\/)\n\n[Kazakhstan](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/category\/regions_s20508\/)\n\n- [Regions](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/category\/regions_s20508\/)\n- [Society](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/category\/society_s20077\/)\n- [Law and Order](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/category\/law-and-order_c333\/)\n- [Culture](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/category\/culture_s20605\/)\n- [Sport](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/category\/sport_s20615\/)\n\n[President](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/tag\/president_t001\/)\n\n[Politics](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/category\/politics_s20070\/)\n\n- [President](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/category\/president_s20084\/)\n- [Government](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/category\/government_s20086\/)\n- [Parliament](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/category\/parliament_s20085\/)\n- [International Relations](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/category\/international-relations_c344\/)\n\n[Economy](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/category\/economy_s20082\/)\n\n[Analytics](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/category\/analytics_s24982\/)\n\n[World](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/category\/around-the-world_c316\/)\n\n- [Central Asia](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/category\/central-asia_c311\/)\n- [Eurasia](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/category\/eurasia_c312\/)\n- [Middle East](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/category\/middle-east_c313\/)\n- [America](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/category\/americas_c314\/)\n- [Africa](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/category\/africa_c315\/)\n\n[Incidents](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/category\/incidents_s23287\/)\n\n# Did USAID funding contribute to COVID-19 lab leak?\n13:05, 6 February 2025\n\nThe United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has played a key role in global health initiatives, particularly through its PREDICT program, launched in 2009, according to a Kazinform News Agency correspondent.\n\n![USAID flag](https:\/\/img.inform.kz\/kazinform-photobank\/media\/2025-02-06\/e6f0ec67-0a72-4a4e-b1b4-967bd1246383.webp)\n\nPhoto credit: Overclockers.ru\n\nThis program aimed to identify and monitor pathogens with pandemic potential by funding research institutions like EcoHealth Alliance.\n\nEcoHealth Alliance collaborated with the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) in China to study bat coronaviruses, collecting samples to assess their potential to infect humans. The goal was to prevent pandemics by identifying dangerous viruses before they could spread widely.\n\nHowever, after the emergence of COVID-19, scrutiny increased regarding these collaborations. Some suggested that research at WIV could have played a role in the pandemic’s origins. While no conclusive evidence supports the theory that SARS-CoV-2 leaked from a lab, investigations by the World Health Organization (WHO) and other international bodies are ongoing.\n\n**Political and governmental fallout**\n\nIn January 2025, President Donald Trump ordered a near-total freeze on foreign aid. Shortly after, Elon Musk announced that he and Trump were in the process of permanently shutting down USAID. Employees were instructed not to report to work, and USAID headquarters in Washington, D.C., closed except for essential personnel. Musk called USAID a “criminal organization” while Trump described it as an organization “run by radical lunatics.”\n\n![USAID flag](https:\/\/img.inform.kz\/kazinform-photobank\/media\/2025-02-06\/18bfffc9-9e40-40b7-91d9-bcd3eeeaca52.jpeg)\n\nPhoto credit: Wikipedia\n\nTheir alliance has led to dramatic restructuring within government agencies, with Musk gaining influence through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).\n\nCritics argue that USAID is a tool of U.S. foreign policy, influencing global affairs under the guise of humanitarian aid. According to Mike Benz, a former State Department official, USAID is more than just an aid agency—it is a “linchpin of America’s global influence” connecting the State Department, the Pentagon, and the Intelligence Community. Its mission, he argues, is to align foreign institutions with U.S. interests rather than provide purely humanitarian assistance.\n\n**The COVID-19 origins investigation and USAID’s role**\n\nA House of Representatives committee investigating the COVID-19 pandemic released a [report](https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/118\/meeting\/house\/117748\/documents\/HRPT-118-SSCPReport.pdf) on December 2, 2024, concluding that SARS-CoV-2 likely leaked from a Wuhan lab rather than occurring naturally. The Republican-led Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic conducted over 30 interviews, reviewed 1 million pages of documents, and scrutinized the role of U.S. science agencies, including NIAID (National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases).\n\nThe 520-page report claims that WIV conducted “gain-of-function” research using NIAID funding to modify coronaviruses. It also revealed that the Department of Justice (DOJ) had convened a grand jury to investigate potential crimes related to COVID-19’s origin. Documents were subpoenaed from EcoHealth Alliance, though the nonprofit denied being a target of any DOJ probe.\n\nDemocrats on the panel released a counter-report disputing these claims, arguing that the viruses studied at WIV were too distantly related to SARS-CoV-2 to be responsible for the pandemic. They also defended Dr. Anthony Fauci, who had been accused of downplaying the possibility of a lab leak.\n\nFurther supporting concerns about U.S. funding for research at WIV, a document obtained via FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) by White Coat Waste Project confirmed that Ben Hu, a researcher at WIV, received over \\$10.6 million from NIAID and \\$38 million from USAID’s PREDICT-2 program for bat coronavirus research. The funding was directed through EcoHealth Alliance and UC Davis, with USAID funding ending in 2019, just before the COVID-19 outbreak. This raises concerns about U.S. involvement in virus research at WIV and its potential link to the pandemic.\n\n**USAID’s shutdown and the global impact**\n\nAccording to the statement from USAID, on Friday, February 7, 2025, all USAID direct-hire personnel worldwide will be placed on administrative leave, except for those designated for mission-critical tasks. USAID, in coordination with the State Department, will arrange return travel to the U.S. within 30 days for employees stationed overseas and terminate contracts deemed non-essential.\n\n**USAID shutdown weakens U.S. leverage in foreign policy**\n\nThe shutdown of USAID has sparked intense debate. Democratic Senator Chris Murphy called it “the total destruction of an agency that has saved countless lives and advanced American interests for decades.” Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez warned that allowing “an unelected billionaire” to control U.S. foreign policy poses “a grave national security risk.”\n\nEven some Republicans are concerned, noting that USAID has been critical in stabilizing regions vulnerable to terrorism and conflict. Experts warn that with the dismantling of USAID, the United States risks losing an essential tool of soft power.\n\nIn addition to shutting down USAID, it was earlier [reported](https:\/\/en.inform.kz\/news\/why-us-is-withdrawing-from-un-human-rights-council-and-unrwa-bebf66\/) that Donald Trump had signed an executive order withdrawing the United States from the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).\n\n[USA](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/tag\/usa) [Donald Trump](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/tag\/donald-trump) [Elon Musk](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/tag\/elon-musk) [Scandal](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/tag\/scandal_t1524) [Politics](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/tag\/politics_t1066) [World News](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/tag\/world-news_t3089)\n\n![YZNYC](https:\/\/img.inform.kz\/kazinform-photobank\/media\/2025-08-21\/c1955c90-db5b-4b03-b0aa-34340c3cab75.webp)\n\n[Yerzhan Zhanibekov](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/author\/4a89b5dd-755b-44ae-844b-6708059d734c)\n\nАвтор\n\nMost popular\n\n[Over 500 people take part in Taza Qazaqstan campaign in Kazakh capital](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/news\/over-500-people-take-part-in-taza-qazaqstan-campaign-in-kazakh-capital-339a42\/)\n\n[Presidents of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan visit historic landmarks in Bukhara](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/news\/presidents-of-kazakhstan-and-uzbekistan-visit-historic-landmarks-in-bukhara-89d38d\/)\n\n[EU carbon emissions decline 1.3% in 2025](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/news\/eu-carbon-emissions-decline-13-in-2025-708a98\/)\n\n[Kazakh and Uzbek leaders visit export-oriented textile cluster](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/news\/kazakh-and-uzbek-leaders-visit-export-oriented-textile-cluster-918108\/)\n\n[Kyrgyzstan, Germany expand hydropower and logistics partnership](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/news\/kyrgyzstan-germany-expand-hydropower-and-logistics-partnership-2c5ad5\/)\n\n[See All](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/news\/did-usaid-funding-contribute-to-covid-19-lab-leak-214f65)\n\n[Kazinform International News Agency](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/)\n\nCategories\n\n[Kazakhstan](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/category\/regions_s20508\/)\n\n- [Regions](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/category\/regions_s20508\/)\n- [Society](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/category\/society_s20077\/)\n- [Law and Order](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/category\/law-and-order_c333\/)\n- [Culture](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/category\/culture_s20605\/)\n- [Sport](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/category\/sport_s20615\/)\n\n[Politics](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/category\/politics_s20070\/)\n\n- [President](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/category\/president_s20084\/)\n- [Government](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/category\/government_s20086\/)\n- [Parliament](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/category\/parliament_s20085\/)\n- [International Relations](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/category\/international-relations_c344\/)\n\n[Economy](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/category\/economy_s20082\/)\n\n[Analytics](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/category\/analytics_s24982\/)\n\n[World](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/category\/around-the-world_c316\/)\n\n- [Central Asia](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/category\/central-asia_c311\/)\n- [Eurasia](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/category\/eurasia_c312\/)\n- [Middle East](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/category\/middle-east_c313\/)\n- [America](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/category\/americas_c314\/)\n- [Africa](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/category\/africa_c315\/)\n\n[Incidents](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/category\/incidents_s23287\/)\n\nAbout\n\n[About Kazinform](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/about\/)\n\n[State symbols](https:\/\/ptrk.qr-pib.kz\/en\/p\/27440)\n\n[Anti-corruption measures](https:\/\/ptrk.qr-pib.kz\/en\/p\/27445)\n\nOther\n\n[Sitemap](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/map\/)\n\n[Contacts](https:\/\/qazinform.com\/contacts\/)\n\nKazinform International News Agency. All rights reserved.\n\nCopyright © 2026\n\n![](https:\/\/mc.yandex.ru\/watch\/381728)","attrs_readable_markdown":"This program aimed to identify and monitor pathogens with pandemic potential by funding research institutions like EcoHealth Alliance.\n\nEcoHealth Alliance collaborated with the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) in China to study bat coronaviruses, collecting samples to assess their potential to infect humans. The goal was to prevent pandemics by identifying dangerous viruses before they could spread widely.\n\nHowever, after the emergence of COVID-19, scrutiny increased regarding these collaborations. Some suggested that research at WIV could have played a role in the pandemic’s origins. While no conclusive evidence supports the theory that SARS-CoV-2 leaked from a lab, investigations by the World Health Organization (WHO) and other international bodies are ongoing.\n\n**Political and governmental fallout**\n\nIn January 2025, President Donald Trump ordered a near-total freeze on foreign aid. Shortly after, Elon Musk announced that he and Trump were in the process of permanently shutting down USAID. Employees were instructed not to report to work, and USAID headquarters in Washington, D.C., closed except for essential personnel. Musk called USAID a “criminal organization” while Trump described it as an organization “run by radical lunatics.”\n\n![USAID flag](https:\/\/img.inform.kz\/kazinform-photobank\/media\/2025-02-06\/18bfffc9-9e40-40b7-91d9-bcd3eeeaca52.jpeg)\n\nPhoto credit: Wikipedia\n\nTheir alliance has led to dramatic restructuring within government agencies, with Musk gaining influence through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).\n\nCritics argue that USAID is a tool of U.S. foreign policy, influencing global affairs under the guise of humanitarian aid. According to Mike Benz, a former State Department official, USAID is more than just an aid agency—it is a “linchpin of America’s global influence” connecting the State Department, the Pentagon, and the Intelligence Community. Its mission, he argues, is to align foreign institutions with U.S. interests rather than provide purely humanitarian assistance.\n\n**The COVID-19 origins investigation and USAID’s role**\n\nA House of Representatives committee investigating the COVID-19 pandemic released a [report](https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/118\/meeting\/house\/117748\/documents\/HRPT-118-SSCPReport.pdf) on December 2, 2024, concluding that SARS-CoV-2 likely leaked from a Wuhan lab rather than occurring naturally. The Republican-led Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic conducted over 30 interviews, reviewed 1 million pages of documents, and scrutinized the role of U.S. science agencies, including NIAID (National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases).\n\nThe 520-page report claims that WIV conducted “gain-of-function” research using NIAID funding to modify coronaviruses. It also revealed that the Department of Justice (DOJ) had convened a grand jury to investigate potential crimes related to COVID-19’s origin. Documents were subpoenaed from EcoHealth Alliance, though the nonprofit denied being a target of any DOJ probe.\n\nDemocrats on the panel released a counter-report disputing these claims, arguing that the viruses studied at WIV were too distantly related to SARS-CoV-2 to be responsible for the pandemic. They also defended Dr. Anthony Fauci, who had been accused of downplaying the possibility of a lab leak.\n\nFurther supporting concerns about U.S. funding for research at WIV, a document obtained via FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) by White Coat Waste Project confirmed that Ben Hu, a researcher at WIV, received over \\$10.6 million from NIAID and \\$38 million from USAID’s PREDICT-2 program for bat coronavirus research. The funding was directed through EcoHealth Alliance and UC Davis, with USAID funding ending in 2019, just before the COVID-19 outbreak. This raises concerns about U.S. involvement in virus research at WIV and its potential link to the pandemic.\n\n**USAID’s shutdown and the global impact**\n\nAccording to the statement from USAID, on Friday, February 7, 2025, all USAID direct-hire personnel worldwide will be placed on administrative leave, except for those designated for mission-critical tasks. USAID, in coordination with the State Department, will arrange return travel to the U.S. within 30 days for employees stationed overseas and terminate contracts deemed non-essential.\n\n**USAID shutdown weakens U.S. leverage in foreign policy**\n\nThe shutdown of USAID has sparked intense debate. Democratic Senator Chris Murphy called it “the total destruction of an agency that has saved countless lives and advanced American interests for decades.” Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez warned that allowing “an unelected billionaire” to control U.S. foreign policy poses “a grave national security risk.”\n\nEven some Republicans are concerned, noting that USAID has been critical in stabilizing regions vulnerable to terrorism and conflict. Experts warn that with the dismantling of USAID, the United States risks losing an essential tool of soft power.\n\nIn addition to shutting down USAID, it was earlier [reported](https:\/\/en.inform.kz\/news\/why-us-is-withdrawing-from-un-human-rights-council-and-unrwa-bebf66\/) that Donald Trump had signed an executive order withdrawing the United States from the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).","meta_canonical":null}

3. Robots.txt Check

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Response:

4. Spam/Ban Check

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Response:

5. Seen Status Check

ℹ️ Skipped - page is already crawled

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INDEXABLE

✅

CRAWLED

5 days ago

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ROBOTS ALLOWED

Page Info Filters

Filter	Status	Condition	Details
HTTP status	PASS	`download_http_code = 200`	HTTP 200
Age cutoff	PASS	`download_stamp > now() - 6 MONTH`	0.2 months ago
History drop	PASS	`isNull(history_drop_reason)`	No drop reason
Spam/ban	PASS	`fh_dont_index != 1 AND ml_spam_score = 0`	ml_spam_score=0
Canonical	PASS	`meta_canonical IS NULL OR = '' OR = src_unparsed`	Not set

Page Details

Property	Value
URL	https://qazinform.com/news/did-usaid-funding-contribute-to-covid-19-lab-leak-214f65
Last Crawled	2026-04-11 17:16:31 (5 days ago)
First Indexed	2025-04-27 20:41:28 (11 months ago)
HTTP Status Code	200
Meta Title	Did USAID funding contribute to COVID-19 lab leak?
Meta Description	The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has played a key role in global health initiatives, particularly through its PREDICT program, launched in 2009, according to a Kazinform News Agency correspondent.
Meta Canonical	null
Boilerpipe Text	This program aimed to identify and monitor pathogens with pandemic potential by funding research institutions like EcoHealth Alliance. EcoHealth Alliance collaborated with the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) in China to study bat coronaviruses, collecting samples to assess their potential to infect humans. The goal was to prevent pandemics by identifying dangerous viruses before they could spread widely. However, after the emergence of COVID-19, scrutiny increased regarding these collaborations. Some suggested that research at WIV could have played a role in the pandemic’s origins. While no conclusive evidence supports the theory that SARS-CoV-2 leaked from a lab, investigations by the World Health Organization (WHO) and other international bodies are ongoing. Political and governmental fallout In January 2025, President Donald Trump ordered a near-total freeze on foreign aid. Shortly after, Elon Musk announced that he and Trump were in the process of permanently shutting down USAID. Employees were instructed not to report to work, and USAID headquarters in Washington, D.C., closed except for essential personnel. Musk called USAID a “criminal organization” while Trump described it as an organization “run by radical lunatics.” Photo credit: Wikipedia Their alliance has led to dramatic restructuring within government agencies, with Musk gaining influence through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Critics argue that USAID is a tool of U.S. foreign policy, influencing global affairs under the guise of humanitarian aid. According to Mike Benz, a former State Department official, USAID is more than just an aid agency—it is a “linchpin of America’s global influence” connecting the State Department, the Pentagon, and the Intelligence Community. Its mission, he argues, is to align foreign institutions with U.S. interests rather than provide purely humanitarian assistance. The COVID-19 origins investigation and USAID’s role A House of Representatives committee investigating the COVID-19 pandemic released a report on December 2, 2024, concluding that SARS-CoV-2 likely leaked from a Wuhan lab rather than occurring naturally. The Republican-led Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic conducted over 30 interviews, reviewed 1 million pages of documents, and scrutinized the role of U.S. science agencies, including NIAID (National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases). The 520-page report claims that WIV conducted “gain-of-function” research using NIAID funding to modify coronaviruses. It also revealed that the Department of Justice (DOJ) had convened a grand jury to investigate potential crimes related to COVID-19’s origin. Documents were subpoenaed from EcoHealth Alliance, though the nonprofit denied being a target of any DOJ probe. Democrats on the panel released a counter-report disputing these claims, arguing that the viruses studied at WIV were too distantly related to SARS-CoV-2 to be responsible for the pandemic. They also defended Dr. Anthony Fauci, who had been accused of downplaying the possibility of a lab leak. Further supporting concerns about U.S. funding for research at WIV, a document obtained via FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) by White Coat Waste Project confirmed that Ben Hu, a researcher at WIV, received over $10.6 million from NIAID and $38 million from USAID’s PREDICT-2 program for bat coronavirus research. The funding was directed through EcoHealth Alliance and UC Davis, with USAID funding ending in 2019, just before the COVID-19 outbreak. This raises concerns about U.S. involvement in virus research at WIV and its potential link to the pandemic. USAID’s shutdown and the global impact According to the statement from USAID, on Friday, February 7, 2025, all USAID direct-hire personnel worldwide will be placed on administrative leave, except for those designated for mission-critical tasks. USAID, in coordination with the State Department, will arrange return travel to the U.S. within 30 days for employees stationed overseas and terminate contracts deemed non-essential. USAID shutdown weakens U.S. leverage in foreign policy The shutdown of USAID has sparked intense debate. Democratic Senator Chris Murphy called it “the total destruction of an agency that has saved countless lives and advanced American interests for decades.” Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez warned that allowing “an unelected billionaire” to control U.S. foreign policy poses “a grave national security risk.” Even some Republicans are concerned, noting that USAID has been critical in stabilizing regions vulnerable to terrorism and conflict. Experts warn that with the dismantling of USAID, the United States risks losing an essential tool of soft power. In addition to shutting down USAID, it was earlier reported that Donald Trump had signed an executive order withdrawing the United States from the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).
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EcoHealth Alliance collaborated with the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) in China to study bat coronaviruses, collecting samples to assess their potential to infect humans. The goal was to prevent pandemics by identifying dangerous viruses before they could spread widely. However, after the emergence of COVID-19, scrutiny increased regarding these collaborations. Some suggested that research at WIV could have played a role in the pandemic’s origins. While no conclusive evidence supports the theory that SARS-CoV-2 leaked from a lab, investigations by the World Health Organization (WHO) and other international bodies are ongoing. Political and governmental fallout In January 2025, President Donald Trump ordered a near-total freeze on foreign aid. Shortly after, Elon Musk announced that he and Trump were in the process of permanently shutting down USAID. Employees were instructed not to report to work, and USAID headquarters in Washington, D.C., closed except for essential personnel. Musk called USAID a “criminal organization” while Trump described it as an organization “run by radical lunatics.” ![USAID flag](https://img.inform.kz/kazinform-photobank/media/2025-02-06/18bfffc9-9e40-40b7-91d9-bcd3eeeaca52.jpeg) Photo credit: Wikipedia Their alliance has led to dramatic restructuring within government agencies, with Musk gaining influence through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Critics argue that USAID is a tool of U.S. foreign policy, influencing global affairs under the guise of humanitarian aid. According to Mike Benz, a former State Department official, USAID is more than just an aid agency—it is a “linchpin of America’s global influence” connecting the State Department, the Pentagon, and the Intelligence Community. Its mission, he argues, is to align foreign institutions with U.S. interests rather than provide purely humanitarian assistance. The COVID-19 origins investigation and USAID’s role A House of Representatives committee investigating the COVID-19 pandemic released a [report](https://www.congress.gov/118/meeting/house/117748/documents/HRPT-118-SSCPReport.pdf) on December 2, 2024, concluding that SARS-CoV-2 likely leaked from a Wuhan lab rather than occurring naturally. The Republican-led Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic conducted over 30 interviews, reviewed 1 million pages of documents, and scrutinized the role of U.S. science agencies, including NIAID (National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases). The 520-page report claims that WIV conducted “gain-of-function” research using NIAID funding to modify coronaviruses. It also revealed that the Department of Justice (DOJ) had convened a grand jury to investigate potential crimes related to COVID-19’s origin. Documents were subpoenaed from EcoHealth Alliance, though the nonprofit denied being a target of any DOJ probe. Democrats on the panel released a counter-report disputing these claims, arguing that the viruses studied at WIV were too distantly related to SARS-CoV-2 to be responsible for the pandemic. They also defended Dr. Anthony Fauci, who had been accused of downplaying the possibility of a lab leak. Further supporting concerns about U.S. funding for research at WIV, a document obtained via FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) by White Coat Waste Project confirmed that Ben Hu, a researcher at WIV, received over \$10.6 million from NIAID and \$38 million from USAID’s PREDICT-2 program for bat coronavirus research. The funding was directed through EcoHealth Alliance and UC Davis, with USAID funding ending in 2019, just before the COVID-19 outbreak. This raises concerns about U.S. involvement in virus research at WIV and its potential link to the pandemic. USAID’s shutdown and the global impact According to the statement from USAID, on Friday, February 7, 2025, all USAID direct-hire personnel worldwide will be placed on administrative leave, except for those designated for mission-critical tasks. USAID, in coordination with the State Department, will arrange return travel to the U.S. within 30 days for employees stationed overseas and terminate contracts deemed non-essential. USAID shutdown weakens U.S. leverage in foreign policy The shutdown of USAID has sparked intense debate. Democratic Senator Chris Murphy called it “the total destruction of an agency that has saved countless lives and advanced American interests for decades.” Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez warned that allowing “an unelected billionaire” to control U.S. foreign policy poses “a grave national security risk.” Even some Republicans are concerned, noting that USAID has been critical in stabilizing regions vulnerable to terrorism and conflict. Experts warn that with the dismantling of USAID, the United States risks losing an essential tool of soft power. In addition to shutting down USAID, it was earlier [reported](https://en.inform.kz/news/why-us-is-withdrawing-from-un-human-rights-council-and-unrwa-bebf66/) that Donald Trump had signed an executive order withdrawing the United States from the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). 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Readable Markdown	This program aimed to identify and monitor pathogens with pandemic potential by funding research institutions like EcoHealth Alliance. EcoHealth Alliance collaborated with the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) in China to study bat coronaviruses, collecting samples to assess their potential to infect humans. The goal was to prevent pandemics by identifying dangerous viruses before they could spread widely. However, after the emergence of COVID-19, scrutiny increased regarding these collaborations. Some suggested that research at WIV could have played a role in the pandemic’s origins. While no conclusive evidence supports the theory that SARS-CoV-2 leaked from a lab, investigations by the World Health Organization (WHO) and other international bodies are ongoing. Political and governmental fallout In January 2025, President Donald Trump ordered a near-total freeze on foreign aid. Shortly after, Elon Musk announced that he and Trump were in the process of permanently shutting down USAID. Employees were instructed not to report to work, and USAID headquarters in Washington, D.C., closed except for essential personnel. Musk called USAID a “criminal organization” while Trump described it as an organization “run by radical lunatics.” ![USAID flag](https://img.inform.kz/kazinform-photobank/media/2025-02-06/18bfffc9-9e40-40b7-91d9-bcd3eeeaca52.jpeg) Photo credit: Wikipedia Their alliance has led to dramatic restructuring within government agencies, with Musk gaining influence through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Critics argue that USAID is a tool of U.S. foreign policy, influencing global affairs under the guise of humanitarian aid. According to Mike Benz, a former State Department official, USAID is more than just an aid agency—it is a “linchpin of America’s global influence” connecting the State Department, the Pentagon, and the Intelligence Community. Its mission, he argues, is to align foreign institutions with U.S. interests rather than provide purely humanitarian assistance. The COVID-19 origins investigation and USAID’s role A House of Representatives committee investigating the COVID-19 pandemic released a [report](https://www.congress.gov/118/meeting/house/117748/documents/HRPT-118-SSCPReport.pdf) on December 2, 2024, concluding that SARS-CoV-2 likely leaked from a Wuhan lab rather than occurring naturally. The Republican-led Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic conducted over 30 interviews, reviewed 1 million pages of documents, and scrutinized the role of U.S. science agencies, including NIAID (National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases). The 520-page report claims that WIV conducted “gain-of-function” research using NIAID funding to modify coronaviruses. It also revealed that the Department of Justice (DOJ) had convened a grand jury to investigate potential crimes related to COVID-19’s origin. Documents were subpoenaed from EcoHealth Alliance, though the nonprofit denied being a target of any DOJ probe. Democrats on the panel released a counter-report disputing these claims, arguing that the viruses studied at WIV were too distantly related to SARS-CoV-2 to be responsible for the pandemic. They also defended Dr. Anthony Fauci, who had been accused of downplaying the possibility of a lab leak. Further supporting concerns about U.S. funding for research at WIV, a document obtained via FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) by White Coat Waste Project confirmed that Ben Hu, a researcher at WIV, received over \$10.6 million from NIAID and \$38 million from USAID’s PREDICT-2 program for bat coronavirus research. The funding was directed through EcoHealth Alliance and UC Davis, with USAID funding ending in 2019, just before the COVID-19 outbreak. This raises concerns about U.S. involvement in virus research at WIV and its potential link to the pandemic. USAID’s shutdown and the global impact According to the statement from USAID, on Friday, February 7, 2025, all USAID direct-hire personnel worldwide will be placed on administrative leave, except for those designated for mission-critical tasks. USAID, in coordination with the State Department, will arrange return travel to the U.S. within 30 days for employees stationed overseas and terminate contracts deemed non-essential. USAID shutdown weakens U.S. leverage in foreign policy The shutdown of USAID has sparked intense debate. Democratic Senator Chris Murphy called it “the total destruction of an agency that has saved countless lives and advanced American interests for decades.” Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez warned that allowing “an unelected billionaire” to control U.S. foreign policy poses “a grave national security risk.” Even some Republicans are concerned, noting that USAID has been critical in stabilizing regions vulnerable to terrorism and conflict. Experts warn that with the dismantling of USAID, the United States risks losing an essential tool of soft power. In addition to shutting down USAID, it was earlier [reported](https://en.inform.kz/news/why-us-is-withdrawing-from-un-human-rights-council-and-unrwa-bebf66/) that Donald Trump had signed an executive order withdrawing the United States from the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).
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