Shaheen and Murkowski press Secretary of State Rubio for Ebola-linked family planning aid in DRC

Two U.S. senators are pressing the Trump administration to make family planning assistance available for women affected by the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, arguing that the needs extend beyond emergency treatment to include sexual and reproductive health supplies and support. In a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, first reported by The Hill, Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) asked the department to release family planning funding and related resources tied to the response. The lawmakers said the request is aimed at ensuring women in the affected communities receive access to contraception and other family planning services during the outbreak. The senators’ letter, sent on Thursday and discussed by The Hill, characterizes the request as bipartisan action to address the practical consequences of the outbreak for women and families. Shaheen and Murkowski said Ebola does not only require medical care, but also creates conditions in which women may face increased risks and disruptions, including barriers to routine reproductive health services. The senators asked Rubio to remove what they described as an obstacle to getting family planning funds and supplies to the field. The Hill reported that the request centers on unlocking assistance connected to the broader U.S. Ebola response in the DRC, with the senators urging the administration to allow the aid to proceed. The push comes against the backdrop of how U.S. foreign assistance is managed during global health emergencies, including decisions on which categories of aid can be allocated and how quickly resources can be directed to affected areas. In this case, the senators framed the issue as one of timing and access, arguing that delaying or constraining family planning support undermines the ability to meet urgent needs for women during the outbreak. Rubio’s department oversees major components of U.S. foreign assistance policy, including diplomatic coordination and parts of the interagency process for emergency responses. The Hill report indicates the lawmakers are seeking action through the State Department rather than through standalone legislation, with the letter serving as a direct request to the Cabinet-level official. The senators’ letter adds to ongoing congressional oversight of how the administration handles sensitive categories of humanitarian aid, particularly services that can intersect with U.S. policy restrictions and interagency determinations. Shaheen and Murkowski’s demand for a release of family planning funding and supplies sets up a near-term decision point for the administration on whether to comply with the request and what conditions, if any, would apply to the affected assistance.