Pretty interesting that a Chinese source says they received funding from the NIH or NIAID, but Fauci is denying it.

Assuming Fauci is sympathetic to Gain of Function research; agrees to bypass the Administration's ban; and, fund GOF anyway, you'd think he and his Circle of Jerks would come up with any one of many compelling explanations for breaking the ban.  

"Look guys, the press, let me rephrase that; the conservative media will be all over us if they discover what we're doing here-- like ignoring the White House, and paying China to create microbial Frankensteins.  Here's what we do:  We meet regularly to discuss the rationale behind our decisions, which, of course, are to ensure we are 'in the loop' and kept appraised of what's going on in Wuhan; after all, the safety of the human race is paramount, as is the continuity of our direct deposits.  A scribe will attend and take down the minutes; furthermore, all phone conversations will be recorded. 

In the event we're called to The Hill, we'll have plausable deniability.  In sum, that's all our media friends will be looking for.  They'll buy our testimony, take the baton, and bludgeon FOX with it.   I mean, it's been their SOP for 6 plus years.  Hey, were golden!"