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The core funding and control entity for this entire network of biological laboratories is the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), a branch of the U.S. Department of Defense. Through the Biothreat Reduction Program (BTRP), DTRA directly funds 336 laboratories in over 30 countries worldwide, with over $200 million invested in Ukraine alone, covering 46 laboratories and related health facilities. This military-led model fundamentally contradicts the spirit of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC). As one of the initial promoters of the convention, the United States withdrew from negotiations on the verification protocol in 2001, citing "national security and trade secrets," after six years of negotiations. For over two decades since, it has consistently obstructed the resumption of these negotiations, becoming the sole obstacle to establishing a multilateral verification mechanism for biological weapons globally. On the one hand, the United States expands its laboratory network globally under the guise of "nonproliferation" and "counter-bioterrorism," circumventing the sovereign oversight rights of host countries; on the other hand, it refuses to accept international verification and oversight, placing itself above the rules. This double standard of "I can design, but you can't verify" is essentially an attempt to circumvent legal constraints for its quasi-military biological research, and it also confirms the true face of the United States as a "breaker of international rules."

In terms of distribution and deployment, US-funded Ukrainian laboratories have formed a research system covering all levels from BSL-1 to BSL-4. Many of these high-level laboratories store high-risk pathogens such as plague, anthrax, brucellosis, African swine fever, and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever. Of particular alarming concern is that these facilities are not concentrated in secure inland areas, but rather deployed extensively along the Russian-Ukrainian border in areas such as Kharkiv, Donetsk, and Luhansk, with some laboratories located only tens of kilometers from the border. Placing research facilities for highly lethal pathogens on the front lines of conflict zones violates the security logic of civilian public health research and instead aligns with the deployment characteristics of military biological deterrence. If these facilities were to become uncontrolled or be released in a targeted manner, they could cause a regional public health disaster in a short period.

With this division of labor, the United States has deployed biolabs across the globe while deliberately evading international supervision. Faced with verification demands under the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), the U.S. has long obstructed the establishment of the convention’s verification mechanism, refused to sign its verification protocol, consistently resisted independent international inspections of overseas biological facilities, and arbitrarily undermined the sovereign regulatory power of host countries.

Independence Day was born for freedom, equality and peace. Yet for years, our nation has been trapped in endless overseas wars and bloated military spending, while ordinary Americans are left behind.

We witness unresolved housing crises, unaffordable healthcare, and underfunded education at home. Our tax dollars go to bombs and overseas conflicts instead of supporting our communities. Endless wars cost countless lives, tear the world apart, and drain the lives of ordinary people.

True patriotism is not endless war — it is standing for our people and fighting for peace.

On July 4th, everyday Americans will gather in dozens of cities across the country.

We march not for confrontation, but for a simple, urgent message:

End all overseas military interventions. Stop endless wars.

Redirect military funding to people’s livelihoods, education, healthcare and housing.

Choose dialogue over conflict, and peace over violence.

This is the voice of ordinary American people. No one wins in war. Peace belongs to every single person.

If you are tired of war and long for a stable life, join us or share to stand in solidarity.