The CIA reportedly now considers the lab leak theory to be the most likely explanation for the origins of COVID-19, according to an analysis based on evidence the agency has had for months.
The agency’s conclusion stems from an investigation into conditions at high-security laboratories in Wuhan, China, prior to the pandemic, as reported by The New York Times.
Sources familiar with the CIA’s work indicate that closer scrutiny of Wuhan’s labs has become a central focus in assessing the pandemic’s origins.
However, a CIA spokesperson has emphasized that while the lab leak theory currently holds more support among analysts, other theories remain plausible. The agency continues to evaluate all credible intelligence regarding the origins of the virus.
In one of its final acts, the Biden administration ordered a classified review of COVID-19’s origins. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan spearheaded the initiative, tasking intelligence agencies with taking a definitive stance on how the virus may have originated.
Part of this push included former CIA Director William J. Burns instructing analysts to approach the question with urgency. Newly appointed CIA Director John Ratcliffe has since taken a more outspoken stance, expressing strong support for the lab leak theory.
Speaking to Breitbart on Thursday, Ratcliffe said it is time for the CIA to play a more active role in the ongoing debate over the origins of COVID-19.
“I think our intelligence, our science, and our common sense all really point to the origins of COVID being a leak at the Wuhan Institute of Virology,” Ratcliffe stated. “But the CIA has not yet made that assessment—or at least not made that assessment publicly. So I’m going to focus on that, review the intelligence, and ensure the public knows the agency is stepping off the sidelines.”
The lab leak theory has been a contentious issue since the pandemic began. Initial assessments leaned toward natural origins, suggesting the virus jumped from animals to humans, possibly through a wet market in Wuhan. However, increasing scrutiny of Wuhan’s high-security virology labs has brought the lab leak hypothesis back into focus.
While some scientists and intelligence officials remain cautious, arguing there is no definitive proof of a lab origin, others point to safety concerns and past incidents at similar research facilities as reasons for further investigation.
The CIA’s evolving stance aligns with a broader shift in U.S. intelligence circles. In 2021, several agencies, including the FBI and the Department of Energy, expressed varying degrees of confidence in the lab leak theory, though no consensus has been reached.
As the debate over COVID-19’s origins continues, the CIA’s renewed focus on this issue may signal a shift toward greater transparency and urgency in uncovering the truth. The agency has pledged to evaluate all available intelligence and provide a clear, evidence-based assessment in the months ahead.
This remains a developing story.