President Trump is presidential order On Monday night, the United States will withdraw from the World Health Organization.
The United States has historically been the largest donor to the Geneva-based organization, the division of the United Nations responsible for combating global public health emergencies.
Public health experts fear the move will weaken not only the organization but also global health security.
President Trump previously attempted to remove the United States from the organization by issuing a notice of withdrawal in 2020. He criticized the organization for its response to the coronavirus pandemic as being too “China-centric” and threatened to withhold U.S. funding even during his presidential term. The administration came under scrutiny for downplaying the threat of the virus early in the pandemic.
Former President Biden entered the White House in 2021 and immediately rejoined the organization before the one-year waiting period to leave had expired. He also restored U.S. funding to the organization.
In an executive order on Monday, President Trump once again criticized the WHO for “mishandling its response” to the coronavirus pandemic and “unfairly” requiring the United States to make “onerous” payments.
About a fifth of the WHO's 2023 budget, or about $1.28 billion, came from the United States.
The funds were used to identify and respond to health emergencies and stop disease threats from spreading across borders, WHO said. Website.
Withdrawing the United States from the WHO would mean the country's health agency would lose access to WHO resources, including global data disclosure.
Amesh Adalja, a senior research fellow at the Johns Hopkins University Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said, “The US' withdrawal from the WHO will undermine the US's ability to recognize the ongoing infectious disease emergencies that are occurring around the world (including now). “It will be severely restricted.” Health security specializing in emerging infectious diseases and pandemic preparedness.
“Practical reforms that need to be made at the WHO, such as pressuring China regarding early information on the novel coronavirus and allowing Taiwan to join the WHO, are unlikely to occur without US membership.”
