In 2014, when Ebola tore through West Africa and threatened to become a global catastrophe, the White House installed an “Ebola czar” to coordinate a massive U.S. response across agencies and governments. The effort, encompassing the Pentagon, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, USAID, the Department of Homeland Security, state officials, hospitals, foreign governments and aid groups overseas, prompted the United States to deploy military assets, build treatment centers and organize airport screening.
