The Trump administration has come under scrutiny after awarding nearly $40 million in biosecurity contracts to a company linked to President Donald Trump’s elder sons. This move follows the family’s investment in the parent company of XpresTest, which is tasked with screening for Ebola and other infectious diseases.

The contracts, which involve screening at U.S. airports and addressing disease outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), amount to seven times the total prior government contracts awarded to XpresTest.

While XpresTest has experience in monitoring COVID-19 at airports, its parent company, XWELL, has a more unusual business model, combining spa services with biosecurity efforts. Prior to the pandemic, most of XWELL’s revenue came from airport spas offering services like manicures and massages.

In the midst of an Ebola outbreak that has claimed over 5,000 lives in the DRC this year, the stakes for these contracts are exceptionally high. The contracts may raise questions about the appropriateness of awarding such crucial public health roles to a firm with no prior experience in handling Ebola or working in high-risk regions.

Ezra Ernst, CEO of XWELL, admitted that the venture into international health responses is new territory for the company and expressed uncertainty about their capabilities in fulfilling the DRC contract. “This is a risky contract. I’m not sure we can do it,” Ernst stated during an interview.

Jeremy Konyndyk, who played a key role in managing the U.S. response to Ebola during its 2014 outbreak in West Africa, expressed concern over the government’s choice. He indicated that numerous experienced organizations exist that could effectively handle such international health crises.

“There are countless organizations in the world that have decades of experience doing this work,” Konyndyk commented. He questioned why the government opted for a less experienced firm.

Historically, the U.S. government has partnered with the World Health Organization and other established entities to combat international disease outbreaks. However, under Trump’s administration, there has been a notable withdrawal from these partnerships, including a departure from the WHO and a reduction in the operational scope of the CDC.

In place of these traditional collaborations, the administration implemented the “America First Global Health Strategy,” aimed at promoting American enterprises overseas. This policy led to the allocation of up to $4.5 billion for disease responses and other initiatives.

Under this new strategy, XpresTest received $20 million, contrasting sharply with the larger grants awarded to seasoned global aid nonprofits like Save the Children and the International Red Cross, which received up to $35 million each.

In addition to the State Department funding, the CDC awarded XpresTest a significant contract worth $18.8 million for services related to Ebola screening.

A spokesperson for Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump clarified their roles in the investment, stating they are “passive, minority investors” and have no involvement in the procurement processes for the contracts. They emphasized their rights as private citizens to engage in lawful business activities.

Their investment connection to XWELL surfaced when American Ventures, a fund linked to the Trump family, invested in the company. Despite claims of passivity, concerns linger about potential conflicts of interest arising from their family ties to the administration.

American Ventures, spearheaded by Dominari Holdings with roots in Trump Tower, acquired more than a 10% stake in XWELL after its valuation plummeted to just $3 million prior to investment.

This situation reflects a broader pattern of the Trump family’s financial ties to government contracts and grants, which has raised ethical questions. Various companies with connections to the Trump administration have received substantial funding, including a $620 million contract involving a startup linked to Trump Jr.

The biosecurity contracts have amplified scrutiny on the Trump family’s financial entanglements during the administration. With Democrats gaining control of Congress in the recent mid-terms, these issues may come under increased investigation.

Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, emphasized the need for transparency, stating, “When the government is corrupted for personal gain over the public interest, Americans lose trust.”

As XpresTest begins its ambitious endeavor in the DRC and other international markets, observers will be watching closely to see how effectively the company can navigate this critical space and the implications it has for U.S. public health policy.