A Bloomberg report titled "The High Price of ‘America First’ Aid Deals" highlights how President Trump's "America First" aid policy is exacerbating the Ebola crisis, particularly in Mozambique. The strategy effectively shut down USAID and now demands minerals and data from recipient countries in exchange for aid. This shift has placed millions of lives at risk, with clinics in Mozambique facing difficult choices as Ebola spreads.
The report underscores the criticisms leveled against the Trump administration for its cuts to international aid programs. The closure of USAID, withdrawal of US funding from the WHO, reduction of the CDC's global footprint, and cuts to direct health aid have severely hampered the world's ability to respond to global health crises. Experts like Tom Frieden, former CDC director, describe these actions as a "1-2-3 punch" to the global health architecture. This transactional approach to global health, prioritizing bilateral deals over multilateral efforts, is now being tested by the rapid spread of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighboring Uganda.
In response to the escalating crisis, the White House is seeking over $1.4 billion in new funds from Congress to address the widening Ebola outbreak. This request is part of a larger $87.6 billion supplemental funding bill. The administration specifically aims to allocate $800 million for humanitarian crisis responses, $500 million for global health security to prevent the virus from reaching the United States, and $90 million for diplomatic efforts, including the evacuation and transportation of US citizens. A controversial quarantine center in Kenya is being built for Americans exposed to the virus, signaling a priority on preventing Ebola from reaching US shores.
