Billion-Dollar Bio Lab Still Offline | Topeka News

A billion-dollar biocontainment lab in Manhattan, Kansas, built to replace Plum Island and handle deadly animal diseases, is still not fully operational three years after completion. Originally managed by DHS, the facility was handed over to USDA—who accepted it without a full performance report—only to inherit $75.8 million in cleanup costs and face delays due to critical flaws: faulty air systems, unsealed rooms, and missing animal containment gates. While USDA plans to activate BSL-3 by end of 2026, there’s no timeline for the top-tier BSL-4 lab, leaving the facility running only at basic safety levels and raising serious questions about oversight and cost overruns. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/63d66a198ff40945