White House Asks Congress For $2.5 Billion To Combat Coronavirus Outbreak

Italy On Coronavirus Lockdown

The Trump administration has asked Congress for $2.5 billion to help fight the Coronavirus outbreak that continues to spread around the world. The White House is requesting $1.25 billion in new funding and wants to transfer $535 million from a program that is working to quell an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The rest of the money would come from other programs within the Department of Health and Human Services.

Democrats blasted the request, saying it is not enough money and takes away funding from other vital programs.

"That President Trump is trying to steal funds dedicated to fight Ebola — which is still considered an epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo — is indicative of his towering incompetence and further proof that he and his administration aren't taking the coronavirus crisis as seriously as they need to be," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement.

There have been 34 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, known as COVID-19, in the United States, but none of the patients have died. There have been 77,600 confirmed cases and more than 2,600 deaths in China, where the outbreak began. There have been a small number of cases reported in other countries, with the most being in Italy, where 283 people have gotten sick.

Photo: Getty Images


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