Enrich book details USAID Ebola response challenges
7 reported
In a new book titled “Into the Woodchipper: A Whistleblower’s Account of How the Trump Administration Shredded USAID,” former top U.S. global health official Nicholas Enrich describes his experience managing the U.S. response to an Ebola outbreak in Uganda in March 2025 while the Trump administration was dismantling USAID. Enrich, who identifies himself as a whistleblower, states he was stymied at every turn, including being told by a political appointee that “Ebola is a scam.” He was put on leave and later dismissed after leaking memos about plans to dismantle the agency. Enrich expresses regret for removing Ebola activities from approval lists under political pressure. He notes that the current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is the first since USAID was destroyed, and he argues that without the agency’s expertise, the State Department is “reinventing the wheel” in its response. Enrich also states that the global health security system built after the 2014 Ebola outbreak was “ripped apart in 2025.”
What’s reported
Nicholas Enrich was the top U.S. official for global health in March 2025.
Two events occurred simultaneously: the Trump administration dismantling USAID and an Ebola outbreak spreading in Uganda.
Enrich says a political appointee told him “Ebola is a scam.”
Enrich was put on leave and dismissed after leaking memos about plans to dismantle USAID.
Enrich states he removed Ebola activities from approval lists under political pressure.
The current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is the first since USAID was destroyed, according to the article.
Enrich says the global health security system built after the 2014 Ebola outbreak was “ripped apart in 2025.”
Key figures
Nicholas Enrich, former top U.S. official for global health and self-described whistleblower
Atul Gawande, former boss of Enrich (mentioned only by title)
Sources: NPR
