Ebola deaths in the Democratic Republic of Congo surpassed 1,800 last week, and former U.S. representatives Chris Stewart and Jim Moran say American policy should reward — not penalize — governments that quickly report and help contain outbreaks. In an opinion piece, the two argued that lifting U.S. travel restrictions on Uganda would reinforce the kind of transparency the United States needs from international partners.
Stewart (R‑Utah) and Moran (D‑Va.) write that governments confronting infectious diseases face strong political and economic pressures to delay disclosure: reporting cases can hurt tourism, investment and diplomatic relationships, and invite domestic criticism. The authors argue that U.S. policy can shape those incentives by offering partnership and fair treatment to countries that cooperate with international health authorities.
According to the two former lawmakers, quicker reporting gives the United States more time to bolster surveillance, ready hospitals, deploy medical resources and protect Americans — because infectious diseases do not respect borders. They say that treating transparent, cooperative countries differently from those where outbreaks continue to spread would both improve public health outcomes and serve U.S. national security interests.
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As an example, Stewart and Moran point to Uganda’s response earlier this year. They write that Ugandan authorities detected Ebola, reported cases, shared information with international health organizations, strengthened surveillance and contained the virus — ending the country’s outbreak while helping prevent wider regional spread. Yet, they note, Uganda remains subject to U.S. travel restrictions that were adopted during the outbreak even though the current emergency is centered in the neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The authors call for reconsidering and removing those restrictions, arguing that doing so would send a clear signal: governments that report outbreaks honestly and work with partners to contain them will be recognized rather than treated the same as countries where transmission persists. They say this approach does not mean weakening U.S. public health protections; rather, it means distinguishing between nations that have demonstrated transparency and effective containment and those that have not.
Stewart and Moran also frame their recommendation as consistent with the Trump administration’s broader emphasis on shaping incentives in foreign policy — for example, rewarding allies that shoulder more responsibility for defense or cooperate on border security. They write that applying the same principle to public health would be an investment in a system that better protects the United States when the next dangerous pathogen emerges.
The former representatives conclude that another outbreak is inevitable and that whether governments choose transparency or silence will depend in part on the incentives set by the international community today. By lifting travel restrictions on Uganda, they argue, the United States could reward responsible behavior, strengthen a partner and encourage the openness that helps keep Americans safer.
Former Rep. Chris Stewart, R‑Utah, served on the House Intelligence Committee, the House Appropriations Committee and the House China Task Force. He is a world record‑setting Air Force pilot, a New York Times best‑selling author and the president of Skyline Capitol. Former Rep. Jim Moran, D‑Va., served on the House Appropriations Committee and its Defense Subcommittee, co‑founded and co‑chaired the New Democrat Coalition, and is president of Moran Global Strategies.
