The project was illegal and violated the Nuremberg Code. Nearly all the participants either did not know they were in the program or were in it against their will. The CIA was even kidnapping civilians in foreign counties and entering them into the program.
I wonder if they kidnapped members of congress or were they just naturally deceitful betrayers?
During the Cold War, the death of or injury to a small number of Americans was not an obstacle to carrying out some project deemed necessary for National Security.
A government accustomed to sending 10s of thousands of conscripts to their death in Europe, Asia, Korea or Vietnam is not going to be overly concerned about a few hundred more.
It was also in the business of conducting atmospheric nuclear testing as well.