He didn’t restart it alone.
He had allies who essentially were in the habit of opposing Trump and deceiving him.
Carter couldn’t trust his own party, riddled as it was with McGovernite radicals and worse. Trump has nearly his whole party AND the government itself against him.
Had Carter had Trump’s abilities — rather than being Carter — the McGovernites might have been toast, well burnt without butter.
https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/fauci-reportedly-relaunched-nih-gain-of-function-research-without-consulting-white-house/