H. Morgan Griffith

U.S. Representative Morgan Griffith

“Powerful cabal of scientists from within NIH helped draft anti lab-leak narrative.” That headline about the National Institutes of Health (NIH) was the headline that Co-Conspirator 1, generally believed to be EcoHealth Alliance’s former President Dr. Peter Daszak, feared would happen related to the COVID-19 pandemic. EcoHealth Alliance is the company that got a grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) to study bat coronaviruses. EcoHealth then gave some of the money to the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) in China to study bat coronaviruses. Now, we know they feared the headline because it was at least in part true! While every man is entitled to his defense in court, former senior adviser at NIAID, Dr. David Morens, was recently indicted for the concealment of documents that were supposed to be kept under the Federal Records Act and/or available under the Freedom of Information Act. Allegations include Morens editing, making suggestions and in part ghost-writing articles to lead the world into believing COVID-19 came from nature, not from a lab leak. In my opinion, this was done in an attempt to help EcoHealth deflect criticism of its involvement with WIV. So perhaps, it was not a cabal of leading scientists inside the National Institutes of Health (NIH). But there was at least one scientist within NIH, and others outside of NIH, who were involved. You can’t have a conspiracy with just one person. In the 118th Congress, I served as Chairman of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee as well as one of the lead Energy and Commerce Committee members involved with the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic. During this time, I grilled key figures involved with coronavirus lab research in Wuhan. Daszak was one of the officials I questioned in an official hearing. When I pressed Daszak on EcoHealth’s reports, he lied to me! It was evident that he was not being completely transparent with Congress. Shortly after that, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) formally debarred Daszak and EcoHealth! I believe that my findings and investigations helped influence this HHS decision. Now, the jury is out for Morens. Not only did Morens serve as a senior adviser to former NIAID Director Dr. Anthony Fauci, but he also worked closely with Daszak. Emails show that Morens claimed he was a conduit between Fauci and Daszak. In the indictment, Morens is listed as working with Co-Conspirator 1, who is generally presumed to be Daszak. According to the indictment, behind the scenes, Morens worked with Daszak to restore a terminated federal grant and advise how to combat the theory that COVID-19 resulted from a lab leak. To maintain the secrecy of their sensitive conversations, Morens used his own personal gmail account! He instructed Daszak to send all email replies to Morens’ personal email. Morens’ personal gmail was used to disclose non-public information and evade or delay compliance with Freedom of Information Act requests. Federal records that Morens created, transferred and exchanged on his personal email seemingly included those concerning my oversight work of NIH and its grants related to COVID-19. The private email also helped Morens “back-channel” information to Senior NIAID Official 1. Who is Senior NIAID Official 1? It is generally assumed to be Dr. Fauci. If you dig deeper, the emails are even more alarming. “…do I get a kickback?? Too much [expletive] money. Do you deserve it all? Let’s discuss…” “of course there’s a kickback.” Were these comments in jest? Perhaps. Let me be clear. Bribery is not a listed charge in the Morens indictment. Or maybe, the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) is dangling this email in front of Morens to persuade him to testify against Senior NIAID Official 1, who is generally presumed to be Fauci. What I do know is that concealing information from Congress is a crime. Additionally, encouraging people to tell Congress that COVID-19 was from a wet market in Wuhan, even when it was likely that the virus’ origins traced back to WIV thanks to research funded by the American taxpayer, is unconscionable! Again, everyone is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty. While these texts and emails are damning, it is for a jury to decide if the indictments hold water. But it is enough information to say the above headline was at least partly true. If you have questions, concerns, or comments, feel free to contact my office. You can call my Abingdon office at 276-525-1405 or my Christiansburg office at 540-381-5671. To reach my office via email, please visit my website at https://morgangriffith.house.gov/. Enter your email address to get the latest updates straight to your inbox. Use the form below to sign up for my newsletter and get the latest news and updates directly to your inbox.

U.S. Representative Morgan Griffith

Position: Representative Griffith expresses support for Trump administration executive orders restricting gender ideology in federal policy and federal funding, and opposes what he characterizes as critical race theory and gender ideology in public schools, including policies permitting transgender students in facilities and sports matching their gender identity.

As the father of three children, I understand the role the parent plays in supporting their child’s growth in education, athletics and health. I believe the parent is a fundamental partner in nurturing the child’s growth. But this development is usually impacted by public schools. All three of my children attended public schools for their K-12 education. Like many parents in Virginia, I remember how concerned I was about critical race theory and gender ideology in 2021 when these issues came to people’s attention, primarily in Northern Virginia. Some local Virginia public schools adopted policies that seemingly embraced these beliefs. Such misguided policies allowed boys in girls’ sports and locker rooms. Unfortunately, these ideas became a part of some classroom studies. You may remember the infamous debate between then-gubernatorial candidate Glenn Youngkin and Democratic Governor Terry McAuliffe. In that debate, McAuliffe showed his deference to critical race theory and gender ideology: “I don’t think parents should be telling schools what they should teach.” And just like that, his comments sparked national attention on the issues of critical race theory and gender ideology. Youngkin capitalized on these comments and Democrats’ standing on these issues. His 2021 upset victory was fueled in part from these issues. In 2024, Trump also capitalized on these issues during his winning campaign. Following Trump’s election, his Administration has worked to root out radical critical race theory and gender ideology in the federal government. On Day One, Trump signed an Executive Order entitled “Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government.” This Executive Order defined the federal policy of recognizing two sexes, male and female. As a result, federal agencies removed any language from agency communications, statements, policies, etc. that promote gender ideology. Among documents removed included the “White House Toolkit on Transgender Equality.” The Order also barred federal funds from promoting “gender ideology.” He also signed another Executive Order, entitled “Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation.” The radical left’s push to indoctrinate children so that they can change their sex via so-called “gender-affirming care” has had profound consequences on American children. Troubled minors that undergo such dangerous procedures subject their bodies to irreversible harms. Those who later regret mutilating themselves have no way to reverse the damage and conceive children. Trump’s Executive Order cracks down on these life-altering procedures. In response to Trump’s Order, numerous U.S. health systems stopped or downsized their sex change programs for minors. In Virginia, the VCU Health and Children’s Hospital of Richmond suspended gender-affirming medication and gender-affirming surgical procedures. Before Trump’s election and his Orders, House Republicans including me set in motion ideas to support pro-parent and pro-children policies. Republicans’ push against gender ideology culminated in the Parents Bill of Rights Act. This bill strengthened parents’ access to education curriculum and budget materials. The then-Democratic majority in the Senate refused to stand with parents and blocked the Parents Bill of Rights Act. This did not deter House Republicans, as we continue to work to codify the Trump Orders into law. In the 119th Congress, I voted with House Republicans to pass the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act. This legislation protects the integrity of female athletics and ensures that only biological women are allowed to participate in women’s sports programs. Unfortunately, all House Democrats opposed this legislation. And sadly, the Senate has yet to act on the bill due to Democrats’ use of the modern filibuster. Later in this Congress, I spoke on the House floor in support of the Protect Children’s Innocence Act. While managing the procedural rule on this bill, I went toe-to-toe with Democrats in debate to speak in favor of this bill that protects minors from dangerous and permanent life-altering medical procedures. The bill prohibits federal Medicaid dollars from funding gender transition procedures. I will also be voting for the Stopping Indoctrination and Protecting Kids Act when it gets to the floor. This bill strengthens parental consent in situations where a school is attempting to change a minor student’s gender markers, preferred name, and sex-based accommodations. Radical gender ideology has no business in the classroom, in the locker room or on the ball field. I will continue to fight the radical left’s anti-parent ideas, vote to protect children from dangerous life-altering procedures and advocate for American families. If you have questions, concerns, or comments, feel free to contact my office. You can call my Abingdon office at 276-525-1405 or my Christiansburg office at 540-381-5671. To reach my office via email, please visit my website at https://morgangriffith.house.gov/. Also on my website is the latest material from my office, including information on votes recently taken on the floor of the House of Representatives. Enter your email address to get the latest updates straight to your inbox. Use the form below to sign up for my newsletter and get the latest news and updates directly to your inbox.

U.S. Representative Morgan Griffith

The U.S. House of Representatives voted favorably on H.R. 7567 – the Farm, Food, and National Security Act. The legislation will be sent to the U.S. Senate for further consideration. Following passage of the bill, U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA), who voted for the bill, issued the following statement: “Agriculture is fundamental to Virginia’s Ninth District. Our farmers plant crops, raise livestock and tend to the agricultural needs of our communities. “I believe the Farm, Food, and National Security Act will help support Ninth District farmers, ranchers and rural communities. This bill will stimulate the farm economy, generate business growth and create opportunity for Ninth District farmers.” The Farm, Food, and National Security Act allows institutions like Virginia Tech to be eligible to receive federal funding through various research grant opportunities. Among other things, the farm bill creates a pilot program for custom slaughter establishments. Small meat-processing facilities will be able to sell their meat inside the Commonwealth of Virginia as long as their product has a label that says the product is not inspected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Meat processing and rendering grants are available to support resilient local food systems, analyze businesses opportunities and improve local and regional meat or poultry processing and rendering. Additionally, the promotion of 21st century technologies will help farmers modernize their operations to make them more efficient. Also, the farm bill prioritizes financial support to domestic specialty crops. Vineyards in Virginia’s Ninth District can take advantage of this benefit. Groups that support this bill include the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, the Virginia Cattlemen’s Association, the Virginia Agribusiness Council, the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation and the Virginia Pork Council. In a February op-ed, Congressman Griffith wrote about the importance of policies that tend to the health care needs of rural communities, including American farmers. Enter your email address to get the latest updates straight to your inbox. Use the form below to sign up for my newsletter and get the latest news and updates directly to your inbox.

U.S. Representative Morgan Griffith

Position: Rep. Griffith supports increased federal oversight and accountability for federally funded research projects, citing the indictment of a former NIH official for records concealment related to COVID-19 research. He advocates for his Risky Research Review Act as a mechanism to strengthen accountability and reform the federal health bureaucracy.

The U.S. Department of Justice secured an indictment against ex-NIH official Dr. David Morens. The charges stem from Dr. Morens and his alleged concealment of federal records related to COVID-19 research. In response to the indictment, U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement: “Congressional investigations into the origins of COVID-19 showed issues with how our federal health bureaucracy handles research grants. “This indictment is a major development related to our investigations, and I encourage the Department of Justice to keep following the facts to where they may lead. The American people deserve accountability, transparency and justice. “My Risky Research Review Act is one potential solution to strengthen accountability, reform the federal health bureaucracy and ensure more thorough oversight of federally funded research projects.” Rep. Griffith was the lead Energy and Commerce Member in numerous forums with public health officials that were in various leadership positions during the outbreak of COVID-19, including working closely with the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic. During this time as Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight & Investigations, the investigation of officials included National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Director Dr. Anthony Fauci, former National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Dr. Frances Collins and Dr. Morens. Rep. Griffith was also a key figure in examining EcoHealth Alliance President Dr. Peter Daszak. In March 2025, Rep. Griffith introduced the Risky Research Review Act and the Royalty Transparency Act to rein in the federal health bureaucracy. Enter your email address to get the latest updates straight to your inbox. Use the form below to sign up for my newsletter and get the latest news and updates directly to your inbox.