On Monday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing the United States to withdraw from the World Health Organization (WHO), a move he has long criticized, particularly regarding the organization's handling of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Speaking at the White House shortly after his inauguration, Trump argued that the U.S. was contributing far more financially to the WHO than China, claiming, “World Health ripped us off.”
The United States, as the largest financial contributor to the Geneva-based agency, plays a crucial role in supporting the WHO's operations. Its withdrawal could lead to a significant restructuring of the organization and disrupt global health initiatives.
This is the second time Trump has sought to distance the U.S. from the WHO. During his first term, the U.S. filed a notice of intent to withdraw, accusing the organization of being unduly influenced by China in the early stages of the pandemic. However, this decision was reversed when Joe Biden assumed the presidency.
The new executive order mandates U.S. agencies to “pause the future transfer of any United States Government funds, support, or resources to the WHO” and to “identify credible and transparent U.S. and international partners” to take over critical activities previously handled by the WHO.
Additionally, the Trump administration revealed plans to review and potentially rescind the Biden administration’s 2024 U.S. Global Health Security Strategy, which aims to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease threats.
The timing of this withdrawal comes amid rising concerns about the current bird flu (H5N1) outbreak, which has already infected dozens and caused at least one death in the U.S. Simultaneously, WHO member states have been negotiating a global treaty on pandemic prevention and response, which will now proceed without U.S. participation.
