From the article: "The NIH established a framework for determining how the research would go forward: scientists have to get approval from a panel of experts,

From the article: "The NIH established a framework for determining how the research would go forward: scientists have to get approval from a panel of experts, who would decide whether the risks were justified. The reviews were indeed conducted—but in secret, for which the NIH has drawn criticism." From what you are saying, it sounds like the author is making a big deal out of standard procedure.