President Donald Trump on Monday issued an executive order directing the United States to withdraw from the World Health Organization (WHO), citing dissatisfaction with the organization’s operations and financial disparities.
Speaking at the White House just hours after his inauguration, Trump criticized the WHO for what he called mismanagement and bias, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The United States has been paying far more than China to the WHO, and yet we’ve been ripped off,” Trump declared.
Impact on Global Health
The United States, as the largest donor to the Geneva-based organization, has historically provided crucial financial support. Its departure is expected to cause significant disruption to the WHO’s funding and global health initiatives, potentially leading to a restructuring of the institution.
This withdrawal comes as global health experts warn of the rising pandemic potential of the H5N1 bird flu outbreak, which has already claimed a life in the United States and infected dozens.
A Repeat Decision
This marks the second time Trump has pursued a withdrawal from the WHO. During his first term, the U.S. issued a notice of intent to leave, accusing the organization of being overly influenced by China during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. That withdrawal was later reversed by the Biden administration.
Details of the Executive Order
Trump’s executive order directs U.S. agencies to:
Pause all future transfers of U.S. government funds, support, or resources to the WHO.
Identify credible U.S. and international partners to take over activities previously managed by the WHO.
Additionally, the administration announced plans to review and rescind Biden’s 2024 U.S. Global Health Security Strategy, which was designed to enhance pandemic prevention and response.
Global Implications
The timing of this decision coincides with ongoing negotiations among WHO member states for a treaty on pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response—a process that will now proceed without U.S. involvement.
The withdrawal signals a major shift in U.S. global health policy and raises concerns about the country’s leadership role in addressing international health crises.
