On his first day back in office, President Donald Trump signed an executive order initiating the United States’ withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO). This decision revives his earlier criticism of the WHO’s handling of global health crises and concerns over disproportionate financial contributions.
President Trump highlighted the financial disparity between the U.S. and other member nations, stating, “We paid 500 million dollars to World Health Organization when I was here and I terminated it. China with 1.4 billion people, they were paying 39 million. We were paying 500 million. It seemed a little unfair to me…”
The executive order mandates the cessation of U.S. financial contributions to the WHO, which currently constitute approximately 18% of the organization’s funding. The withdrawal process is set to take 12 months, during which the U.S. will halt all support and recall its personnel from the organization. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been directed to notify the United Nations and the WHO of the decision.
This move is reminiscent of President Trump’s 2020 attempt to exit the WHO, a decision that was later reversed by President Joe Biden upon taking office. The current withdrawal raises concerns about the potential impact on global health initiatives, including programs targeting tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and emergency responses. The U.S. will also lose access to international health networks, affecting areas such as vaccine development and disease surveillance.
In response, the WHO has been seeking additional funding from other donors to mitigate the financial shortfall anticipated from the U.S. withdrawal. The organization aims to continue its mission of addressing global health challenges despite the reduced support.
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