It looks like the Biden administration has found yet another crisis to “lead the world” on—this time, it’s monkeypox. In typical fashion, they’re holding roundtable meetings at the White House instead of addressing more immediate issues facing Americans, like inflation or border security. On Monday, the White House Office of Pandemic Preparedness and Response Policy and the National Security Council decided it was time to discuss potential monkeypox outbreaks. And surprise, surprise, the main reason for their concern? Rising cases in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). As if that’s the priority for Americans right now.

Two strains of monkeypox, clade I and clade II, are currently on the radar. The first one, clade I, is the big bad wolf of the bunch, with the Biden team focused on containing it since it’s endemic to the DRC. And of course, the administration couldn’t help but declare that the global mpox response and domestic preparedness efforts are “top priorities.” Forget skyrocketing gas prices, it’s monkeypox that will keep us all up at night, apparently.

Dr. Liz Sherwood-Randall, the Homeland Security Advisor, threw in her two cents, claiming that “building on lessons learned from the mpox outbreak response in 2022” will help America lead the way. Lead the way where, exactly? She also talked about working with “trusted community organizations, academic researchers, and civil society actors” across the world to keep us safe. Because nothing says “safety” like endless bureaucratic partnerships and roundtable discussions, right?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there have been more than 27,000 suspected monkeypox cases and over 1,300 deaths worldwide as of September 2024. The CDC might want to take a closer look at their priorities too. While the media runs wild with these figures, most of the cases are centered in Africa. That didn’t stop the White House from convening federal agencies, advocacy groups, and other organizations to talk about their grand plan to save the world from clade I. A press release, of course, followed to highlight their supposed heroic efforts.

Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer chimed in with a real gem, saying, “Our actions today and in the coming weeks have the potential to change the course of the global clade I mpox response at home and abroad.” He then went on to remind everyone how critical it is for the U.S. to remain a global leader in health emergencies. Sure, because being a global leader in securing our own borders or fixing our economy would just be too much to ask for.

The World Health Organization (WHO) couldn’t resist jumping into the fray, declaring on August 14 that the monkeypox outbreak in the DRC is a public health emergency of international concern. WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called the outbreak a serious threat, claiming it has the potential to spread across Africa and beyond. You’d think after the whole COVID debacle, they’d take a more measured approach to these declarations, but here we are again.

And here’s the kicker: there are no known clade I monkeypox cases in the United States. So why the rush? Monday’s White House discussion was all about being proactive, which, of course, translates to more government control and interventions. The administration also used the meeting to emphasize its “leadership role in the global mpox response” and to “bolster domestic preparedness.” Because if there’s one thing we’ve learned from past health crises, it’s that government intervention always works flawlessly, right?

The release made it clear that the government is taking every precaution necessary to ensure the U.S. can “rapidly detect, contain, and manage clade I cases should they occur.” It’s as if they’re preparing for something that isn’t even happening in America, while everyday citizens deal with real issues that seem to be of little concern to this administration. Priorities, am I right?

So here we are, with the Biden-Harris administration once again focusing on foreign problems and future hypothetical crises instead of handling the mess right in front of them. While they pat themselves on the back for preparing for a possible monkeypox outbreak from the DRC, Americans continue to deal with the real emergencies—like inflation, rising crime, and a crumbling border. But hey, at least they’re ready for a monkeypox outbreak that hasn’t even reached our shores yet. It’s reassuring to know they’ve got their eyes on the ball—just the wrong one.