The US State Department says the Trump administration plans to provide an additional $242 million to fight the Ebola outbreak in Africa, pending consultations with Congress. The pledge builds on G7 commitments and would bring total direct US assistance to more than $512 million. Separately, $350 million in humanitarian aid will target the DRC, South Sudan and Uganda as part of a $1.8 billion UN package. Médecins Sans Frontières warns the eastern DRC outbreak remains critical, with over 3,600 confirmed cases and about 1,500 deaths.
US Announces Additional $242M To Fight Ebola In Africa, Raising Total US Aid Above $512M
FILE PHOTO - An Ebola nurse at the CTE ALIMA BENI Ebola Treatment Centre cares for a child suspected of having Ebola. (is associated with: «US plans additional $242 million in Ebola aid for Africa») Kitsa Musayi/dpa
The US State Department announced on Wednesday that the administration of President Donald Trump intends to provide an additional $242 million to help combat the Ebola outbreak in Africa. The funding is subject to consultations with Congress and is earmarked for emergency response operations, regional preparedness and humanitarian assistance related to the outbreak.
Package Details
According to the State Department, this new pledge builds on commitments made at the Group of Seven summit in June and would bring total direct US assistance to fight the Ebola outbreak to more than $512 million. In addition to the $242 million, the administration said it will provide $350 million in humanitarian assistance targeted at the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), South Sudan and Uganda. That $350 million is part of a previously announced $1.8 billion contribution to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) intended to benefit multiple countries.
Policy Context
The announcement comes amid a broader scaling back of international aid by the administration since President Trump took office in January 2025. The government has cut foreign assistance, reviewed a range of international programs and formally withdrawn the United States from the World Health Organization (WHO), moves that have raised questions about future multilateral coordination on health crises.
On-the-Ground Outlook
“The outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is more critical than ever,” warned aid group Médecins Sans Frontières.
The current outbreak is the largest Ebola epidemic ever recorded in the DRC, with more than 3,600 laboratory-confirmed infections and about 1,500 deaths. Ebola is a highly infectious and frequently fatal viral disease transmitted through direct contact with infected people or their bodily fluids, and rapid aid and coordination remain essential to containing spread and treating patients.
What Happens Next: The funding is pending consultations with Congress. If approved and disbursed, the resources would support emergency response teams, vaccine and treatment logistics, local health-system strengthening and humanitarian assistance in affected communities.
Help us improve.
