Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has declassified new intelligence material that she claims reveals longstanding U.S. government funding for more than 120 biological laboratories across more than 30 countries, reopening questions about oversight of overseas pathogen research and the extent of public knowledge about those programs. The intelligence dump goes beyond the debate that surrounded Ukrainian laboratories during the early stages of Russia’s invasion. The Intelligence Community identified a global network of U.S.-funded facilities, according to Gabbard, many of which have conducted research involving hazardous and highly contagious pathogens. Military.com exclusively reported how Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) introduced legislation aimed to increase mandatory criminal penalties for individuals smuggling bioweapons into the United States, coming on the heels of Department of Justice-announced charges against two National Institutes of Health researchers caught for allegedly bringing vials of monkeypox into the country from Africa. Gabbard is in her final days as DNI, recently announcing that her husband had contracted bone cancer as an impetus for leaving the position. She has faced scrutiny in her role due to her past remarks about "forever wars" and U.S. military intervention—dating back to when she was an elected Democrat and presidential candidate—and how those views have shifted, starting with strikes on Venezuelan vessels last summer and since the U.S. started attacking Iran on Feb. 28. President Donald Trump on Thursday endorsed Jay Clayton, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York and former chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission, as the next DNI. It was somewhat of a curveball after Bill Pulte, director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, was originally endorsed by Trump to succeed Gabbard less than two weeks earlier.