NewsCoronavirus

Actions

Report: US agency links COVID-19 origin to China lab leak

The U.S. Energy Department has joined the FBI in concluding that COVID-19 likely originated from a lab leak in Wuhan, China.
Report: COVID origin linked to China lab leak
COVID-19
Posted
and last updated

The U.S. Energy Department has concluded that COVID-19 most likely came from a lab leak in Wuhan, China, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal.

The report states the department made that conclusion with "low confidence."

The Energy Department joins the FBI in supporting the lab leak theory, whereas four other government agencies contend that the virus emerged due to natural transmission.

Despite different conclusions, all departments agree that COVID-19 was not likely a result of China's biological weapons program.

On Sunday, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said the findings were not conclusive, but did add that it gives some insight into what may have led to the outbreak.

The latest assessment was delivered to key members of Congress, and it comes as Republicans have been pushing for more information into the lab leak theory.

House GOP lawmakers are preparing to hold hearings on the origins of the virus, and plan to further press the Biden administration on the government's response to the pandemic. 

,

Weather

Daily Forecast

View Hourly Forecast

Day

Conditions

HI / LO

Precip

Saturday

03/28/2026

Partly Cloudy

-° / 60°

1%

Sunday

03/29/2026

Mostly Clear

89° / 60°

0%

Monday

03/30/2026

Cloudy

88° / 63°

0%

Tuesday

03/31/2026

Clouds Early/Clearing Late

75° / 56°

19%

Wednesday

04/01/2026

Partly Cloudy

77° / 54°

21%

Thursday

04/02/2026

Partly Cloudy

72° / 47°

2%

Friday

04/03/2026

Mostly Clear

74° / 50°

0%

Saturday

04/04/2026

Clear

83° / 54°

0%