Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard published 67 declassified documents on June 18, 2026, that her office and The Daily Wire said relate to the U.S. intelligence community’s review of COVID-19’s origins, including a readout of a June 2021 briefing involving Anthony Fauci.
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard released a set of 67 declassified documents on June 18, 2026, according to an index posted on the Office of the Director of National Intelligence website and a report by The Daily Wire.
The Daily Wire said the materials include a "Fauci readout" and emails from July 2021 that discuss suggestions attributed to Fauci about outside experts the intelligence community should consult. The outlet quoted an email dated July 13, 2021, describing that “Dr. Fauci recommended that the IC reach out to the below individuals,” and a July 14, 2021, reply that argued investigators should follow up on those suggestions because he was a subject-matter expert.
The Daily Wire also reported that an unclassified document in the release says Fauci met with the CIA’s Weapons and Counterproliferation Mission Center on June 4, 2021, to discuss COVID-19’s origins. The outlet characterized Fauci’s position in that meeting as favoring continued pursuit of a natural-origins explanation and outreach to people who supported that view. The underlying June 4, 2021, readout itself was not independently reviewed here beyond what is described in the index and The Daily Wire’s account.
In a video statement cited by The Daily Wire, Gabbard said the newly released records show efforts to suppress discussion of a possible laboratory origin and alleged retaliation against some intelligence personnel. Those assertions are Gabbard’s characterization; the public index does not, by itself, substantiate claims of retaliation.
Fauci’s interactions with the intelligence community have previously been discussed publicly. During a House hearing on June 3, 2024, Fauci told lawmakers he “can’t give you the specifics” when asked whether he had spoken with U.S. intelligence agencies about viral research, then referenced briefings that occurred during the 2001 anthrax attacks and later said he was briefed by intelligence agencies during the COVID-19 period.
Separately, President Joe Biden issued a preemptive pardon for Fauci shortly before leaving office in January 2025, according to reporting by multiple outlets and a pardon warrant posted by the Justice Department.
Sen. Rand Paul, a Republican who has previously called for investigation of Fauci, said the new release backed his earlier referrals of Fauci to the Justice Department, The Daily Wire reported.
