WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump, upon resuming his duties in the White House, enacted a series of executive actions, including a significant move to initiate the withdrawal of the United States from the World Health Organization (WHO) for the second time in under five years. This action has raised concerns among scientists and public health experts regarding potential setbacks in combating diseases like AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis, which could reverse progress made over several decades.
Experts have expressed that leaving the WHO could also diminish global readiness against emerging outbreaks that could lead to the next pandemic.
**What does the decision entail?**
In a meeting in the Oval Office, President Trump signed an executive order outlining the steps necessary to start the withdrawal process. He remarked upon signing it, “Ooh, that’s a big one!” The order outlines a halt to future U.S. funding transfers to WHO, calls for the reassignment of federal employees working with the organization, and instructs officials to find alternative credible partners—both domestic and international—to take over activities previously managed by WHO.
This is not the first attempt by Trump to disengage from WHO. In July 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, his administration formally informed U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres of its intention to withdraw, also cutting funding to the agency. President Joe Biden reversed this decision on his first day in office in January 2021, only for Trump to bring it back into the spotlight upon returning to the White House.
Dr. Tom Frieden, the president and CEO of the advocacy organization Resolve to Save Lives, criticized Trump’s action, stating, “This makes Americans — and the world — less safe.” He emphasized that withdrawing would not only deprive WHO of essential funding but would also diminish the U.S.’s stature as a leader in global health, ultimately risking greater vulnerability to pandemic threats.
**Understanding the World Health Organization**
The WHO serves as the specialized health agency of the United Nations, tasked with orchestrating the global response to health emergencies, including outbreaks of diseases like mpox, Ebola, and polio. Beyond that, it assists less affluent nations in accessing vaccines, providing treatments, and setting health standards across various conditions, including those related to mental health and cancer.
Lawrence Gostin, a law expert in global health at Georgetown University, remarked that a U.S. exit from WHO would compromise global health and safety initiatives. He stressed that the loss of American resources would significantly impact WHO’s ability to monitor and respond to epidemics effectively. “This could lead to new diseases spiraling out of control and potentially triggering a pandemic,” he warned.
**Is Trump able to withdraw the U.S. from WHO?**
Yes, Trump can proceed with the withdrawal provided he obtains Congressional approval and that the U.S. meets its current financial commitments to WHO. The U.S. became a member of WHO following a joint resolution from Congress in 1948, which mandates a year’s notice should the country wish to exit.
**Consequences for WHO**
The ramifications for WHO would be severe. Historically, the U.S. has been one of WHO’s largest financial contributors, providing substantial monetary support alongside a skilled workforce that contributes specialized public health expertise. Each year, U.S. contributions have ranged from approximately $160 million to $815 million, crucial to WHO’s annual budget of $2 billion to $3 billion. A withdrawal would jeopardize various global health programs, including initiatives aimed at eradicating polio and enhancing maternal and child health.
Numerous U.S. agencies collaborating with WHO, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health, would be adversely affected, disallowing American participation in essential WHO-led initiatives such as the formulation of annual flu vaccines. Moreover, American researchers would face barriers in accessing critical genetic data from WHO, hampering their capacity to develop vaccines and treatments swiftly.
**Reasons behind Trump’s decision**
At a campaign rally in September, Trump criticized WHO for what he called widespread corruption and claimed the organization was under undue influence from corporate powers and China. He also pointed out that the U.S. contributes more financially than China to WHO and expressed concern about China’s influence over the health agency. “They want to give control over our whole country to them, which would be a terrible mistake,” he asserted.
While WHO provides guidance to its member states during health crises, it lacks the power to mandate actions unilaterally. Trump previously accused WHO of colluding with China to obscure the reality of the COVID-19 outbreak’s severity in its early stages, alleging that crucial information was withheld, which hindered efforts to control its spread.
**WHO’s stance**
Responding to these developments, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized the importance of collaboration, stating, “We are ready to work together.” He highlighted the longstanding beneficial relationship between WHO and the U.S., stressing that health security is interconnected and that the U.S. cannot be fully protected from health threats if the global community is not secure. He noted that during the Ebola outbreak in Congo in 2018, it was WHO that assisted in containment without American responders.
