# US Bars Citizens in Congo from Returning Home Americans in Congo placed on 'do-not-board' list due to Ebola outbreak. - **Source:** [Ars Technica - All content](https://brifing.si/source/b728770c-8dda-457a-8986-84879c9fc42c) - **Published:** 2026-07-14 - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/d508be81-3816-4857-875d-f04d461e6bca ## US Ban on Citizens in Congo The Trump administration barred US citizens in the Democratic Republic of the Congo from returning home due to the Ebola outbreak. The decision was made as the outbreak continues to outpace response efforts. ## 'Do-Not-Board' List Americans currently in the DRC or those who have recently traveled there have been placed on a 'do-not-board' list. They cannot return to the US without spending 21 days in a third country. ## Title 49 Authority The order was issued under Title 49, a transportation authority that allows travel restrictions in emergencies. This legal framework enables the government to impose such bans. ## Affected Individuals The new rule has already blocked approximately two dozen Americans who were set to board flights home on Tuesday. Their travel plans were halted abruptly. ## Does It Apply to Government Workers? It remains unclear whether the ban also applies to government employees. The CDC has at least two dozen staff working in the DRC. ## Global Impact of the Outbreak The Ebola outbreak poses a threat not only to the DRC but also to global health security. The US measure aims to prevent the further spread of the disease. ## Sources covering this story - https://arstechnica.com/health/2026/07/americans-in-congo-barred-from-returning-home-amid-ebola-outbreak/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._