President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to begin the United States’ withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO).
The executive order which follows his second inauguration, marks a significant shift in the country’s international health commitments.
The decision to exit the WHO comes as part of a broader suite of executive orders that Trump signed on issues ranging from immigration policy to climate change.
Trumps’ rationale for withdrawing from the WHO centers on his longstanding criticism of the organization’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and its relationship with China.
During his inauguration ceremony at the White House, Trump accused the WHO of being excessively influenced by political pressures from member states and criticized the agency for mishandling global health crises. He also argued that the United States, the largest financial contributor to the WHO, was being unfairly burdened by the group’s funding requirements, which he claimed were disproportionate to what other countries, including China, contributed.
“World Health ripped us off, everybody rips off the United States. It’s not going to happen anymore,” Trump declared as he signed the executive order.
The U.S. will formally exit the WHO in 12 months, a process that will halt all American financial contributions to the organization. The United States currently provides around 18percent of the WHO’s total funding, making it the largest donor. The WHO’s budget for the 2024-2025 period stands at $6.8 billion, and the withdrawal of the U.S. is expected to have significant ramifications for the organization’s work, particularly in combating global health challenges like tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and other public health emergencies.
In addition to cutting financial support, the order also directs U.S. personnel working with the WHO to be reassigned, effectively ending U.S. collaboration on health projects coordinated through the agency.
Trump’s administration will also cease negotiations on the WHO’s pandemic treaty, which has been a point of contention amid growing concerns about the agency’s pandemic response.
In 2020, during his first term, Trump sought to withdraw from the organization, accusing it of aligning with China’s interests in downplaying the origins of the coronavirus. Despite these efforts, the departure was halted after Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 presidential election, with Biden reversing the decision on his first day in office.
The current move could have lasting implications for global health security, as the WHO’s programs rely heavily on the financial and logistical support from member states, particularly the U.S. While other international bodies, like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the European Commission, contribute significant funds, the loss of American backing is expected to hinder ongoing initiatives aimed at eradicating diseases such as polio and tuberculosis.
Health experts have expressed concern that this withdrawal could weaken the global response to future health crises and undermine efforts to address long-standing health inequities around the world.
The WHO, which has yet to comment on the latest developments, has faced mounting criticism over its response to the COVID-19 pandemic, but many public health professionals argue that the organization is vital for global collaboration and the effective distribution of health resources.
