WASHINGTON – On his first day back in office, President Donald Trump executed a series of executive actions, one of which initiated the process of withdrawing the United States from the World Health Organization (WHO) for a second time in five years. This action has sparked concern among scientists and public health experts, who warn that it may reverse decades’ worth of progress in combating diseases such as AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis.
Medical experts have emphasized that stepping away from WHO could significantly undermine global preparedness for new health crises that have the potential to escalate into pandemics.
So, what does Trump’s decision entail?
In his first appearance in the Oval Office since beginning his second term, Trump signed an executive order detailing the withdrawal process. Upon signing, he remarked, “Ooh, that’s a big one!” His order includes plans to halt any future transfers of U.S. government funds to the WHO, as well as calling for the return and reassignment of federal personnel and contractors currently engaged with the organization. It also tasks officials with identifying reliable partners, both domestic and international, to take over essential functions that were previously managed by WHO.
This is not the first attempt by Trump to detach the U.S. from WHO. In July 2020, amidst escalating global COVID-19 cases, his administration formally notified the United Nations Secretary-General of plans to withdraw and halted funding to the organization.
Upon taking office in January 2021, President Joe Biden promptly reversed this decision, only for Trump to reinitiate the withdrawal process on his first day back in the White House.
Understanding the significance of WHO and the implications of this withdrawal is crucial. The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations, responsible for coordinating responses to global health threats, including epidemics of diseases such as Ebola and polio. The organization also assists low-income countries, facilitates the distribution of vaccines and treatments, and establishes health guidelines across various conditions, including mental health.
Lawrence Gostin, director at the WHO Collaborating Center for Global Health Law at Georgetown University, stated that a U.S. exit from WHO would pose serious risks to global health safety. He explained that the withdrawal of American resources would severely impact WHO’s capacity for global surveillance and epidemic response efforts.
Former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark expressed concern about the implications of a U.S. exit, particularly with rising avian flu outbreaks that could lead to a pandemic. She categorized Trump as a “disruptor” and underscored that the loss of funding would create a significant gap in WHO’s operations.
Can Trump successfully withdraw the U.S. from WHO?
Yes, Trump can pursue this withdrawal with the consent of Congress, provided that the U.S. continues to meet its financial commitments to WHO throughout the current fiscal year. The country became a WHO member through a 1948 joint resolution passed by Congress, which mandates a one-year notice for any withdrawal decision.
What does this mean for WHO?
This situation poses considerable challenges for WHO. The United States has historically served as one of the largest contributors to the organization, donating hundreds of millions of dollars and deploying numerous public health experts over the years. In the last decade alone, contributions from the U.S. have ranged from $160 million to $815 million annually, while WHO’s total budget hovers between $2 billion and $3 billion. The potential loss of U.S. financial support could jeopardize essential global health initiatives, including efforts aimed at polio eradication and maternal and child health programs, as well as vital research into emerging viral threats.
The departure could also adversely affect American agencies that collaborate with WHO, such as the CDC. Losing access to WHO-coordinated actions would hinder the U.S.’s participation in initiatives like the yearly flu vaccine composition, alongside delaying access to important genetic databases managed by WHO, which could impact the development of vaccines and medicinal products.
Trump’s decision to withdraw stems from criticisms he has made against WHO during a campaign rally. He has accused the organization of being influenced by corporate interests and China. The executive order cites the U.S.’s withdrawal as a response to WHO’s “mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic” and its failure to implement crucial reforms.
WHO has faced its share of controversies during the pandemic, making missteps such as advising against mask usage and failing to immediately acknowledge the airborne transmission of the virus. The agency also confronted a significant scandal involving sexual abuse allegations against health workers in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
In a statement following Trump’s announcement, WHO expressed regret and called for a reconsideration of the U.S.’s decision, acknowledging the longstanding partnership between the U.S. and the organization. WHO noted that, over its 70 years of operation, the partnership has yielded remarkable successes in eradicating diseases, including smallpox, and has significantly benefited people around the globe.
During a news briefing in Geneva, WHO spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic highlighted that the U.S. accounted for 18% of WHO’s budget in 2023, asserting its position as the largest donor for that year. However, he refrained from speculating on the potential consequences of a U.S. withdrawal from the organization.
