Absence of USAID likely slowed Ebola detection and response, former officials say
Former officials claim that the absence of USAID has hindered the U.S. response to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. They argue that the dismantling of USAID under the Trump administration has led to slower detection and response efforts. The State Department, however, denies that these changes have negatively impacted the country's ability to manage the outbreak.
- ▪The U.S. Agency for International Development was previously integral to Ebola response efforts.
- ▪Former officials believe that USAID's absence has resulted in a slower and less coordinated response to the outbreak.
- ▪The State Department has mobilized $23 million in foreign assistance to support the response efforts.
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Health newsAbsence of USAID likely slowed Ebola detection and response, former officials sayThe State Department denies that changes to USAID have hampered the response to the outbreak.Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00A border health officer at the Busunga crossing between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo checks a traveler's temperature on Monday.Badru Katumba / AFP via Getty ImagesShareAdd NBC News to GoogleMay 20, 2026, 10:57 AM EDTBy Aria Bendix, Alexander Smith, Erika Edwards and Abigail WilliamsUntil last year, the U.S. Agency for International Development was part of a time-tested system for dealing with Ebola. In its absence, a dozen former federal employees told NBC News, the U.S.
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