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. 

Sign up for our Morning E-mail Newsletter to receive the latest headlines in your inbox.

,

Weather

Daily Forecast

View Hourly Forecast

Day

Conditions

HI / LO

Precip

Sunday

10/26/2025

Sunny

74° / 54°

0%

Monday

10/27/2025

Partly Cloudy

70° / 51°

7%

Tuesday

10/28/2025

Sunny

79° / 53°

7%

Wednesday

10/29/2025

Sunny

81° / 54°

2%

Thursday

10/30/2025

Mostly Sunny

82° / 55°

0%

Friday

10/31/2025

Sunny

79° / 54°

2%

Saturday

11/01/2025

Sunny

79° / 55°

1%

Sunday

11/02/2025

Mostly Sunny

79° / 56°

0%