The White House defended efforts on Monday to investigate the origins of COVID-19 after receiving sharp criticism from both China and congressional Republicans.

The Department of Energy reportedly concluded that the virus most likely leaked from a lab, leading Chinese officials to accuse the United States of politicizing the matter. National Security Council coordinator John Kirby was asked about those statements during the afternoon press briefing.

CORONAVIRUS MOST LIKELY ORIGINATED FROM A LAB LEAK, US DEPARTMENT CONCLUDES

"The president made trying to find the origins of COVID a priority right when he came into office," Kirby said, adding that he can't speak to the Chinese reaction.

Leaning on new intelligence, the DOE, which oversees numerous U.S. labs and research centers, made a judgment in "low confidence" that a lab leak is the most likely origin of the pandemic, per a classified intelligence analysis shared with the White House and Congress, the Wall Street Journal reported.

GOPers were also moved by the report, with Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) tweeting, "For years, Anthony Fauci and Biden officials called this a conspiracy.” House Foreign Affairs Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX) released a statement calling on the Biden administration to concur publicly that the pandemic originated from a lab leak.

Despite being peppered with questions, Kirby was not prepared to do that Monday.

"There's not been a definitive conclusion, so it's difficult for me to say," he said. "Nor should I feel like I should have to defend press reporting about a possible preliminary indication here."

The Energy Department joins the FBI in its conclusion, while four other agencies believe COVID-19 is most likely derived from natural transmission. Two agencies, including the CIA, haven't reached a firm conclusion, per the report.

But Kirby was firm in saying that President Joe Biden wants to know the origins and has pressed China on the matter.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

"The president wants to understand it so we can prevent future pandemics," he said. "We really do want to know what happened here."