Trump ordered America to withdraw from the World Health Organization
US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to begin the process of withdrawing the United States from the World Health Organization (WHO).
“Ooh, that’s a big deal,” said the newly inaugurated US president as he approved the document after returning to the White House. It was one of dozens of executive actions he signed on his first day in office.
This is the second time Trump has ordered the US to withdraw from the World Health Organization.
Trump has been critical of the international body’s handling of Covid-19 and began the process of withdrawing from the Geneva-based institution during the outbreak. President Joe Biden later reversed the decision.
Taking this executive action on Day One raises the possibility of the US formally withdrawing from the international agency.
Trump said in the Oval Office, referring to the World Health Organization, that “they really wanted us to come back so we could see what happens,” hinting that America might eventually return.
The order said the United States is recovering from “the organization’s mishandling of the Covid-19 outbreak from Wuhan, China and other global health crises, its failure to make urgently needed reforms, and its failure to demonstrate appropriate immunity.” Political Influence of WHO Member States”.
The executive order also said it was the result of “unfairly heavy payments” by the United States to the UN agency WHO.
During Trump’s first term in office, he criticized the organization for being “China-centric” in fighting the Covid-19 pandemic.
Trump has accused the World Health Organization of biasing China in how it issued guidance during the outbreak.
Under the Biden administration, the US remains the largest donor to the World Health Organization, and in 2016 It will contribute one-fifth of the agency’s budget by 2023.
The organization’s annual budget is $6.8 billion (£5.5bn).
Perhaps the funding will disappear immediately, and it is not clear that other countries will step up to fill the gap.
A U.S. withdrawal could affect the WHO’s ability to respond to emergencies like the Ebola outbreak or MPOX — or even a Covid-19-type outbreak.
Public health experts point out that progress in fighting infectious diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, HIV and AIDS could have other consequences for Americans’ health.
Ashish Jha, who previously served as the co-ordinator of the Covid-19 response under President Biden, previously warned that a withdrawal would “harm not only the health of people around the world, but America’s leadership and scientific prowess.”
“This is a serious presidential decision. Withdrawal is a serious wound to global health, but an even deeper wound to America,” said Lawrence Gostin, a global public health expert and professor at Georgetown University.
There are also concerns that a US withdrawal could eventually open the door to greater Chinese influence in the global arena.
There is little opposition to the move, but some argue that it could spur further reforms to how the WHO works, meaning it will better serve the public health needs of people around the world.
If that happens, it may be enough to tempt the US back into the fold. However, the tone of language from Washington suggests that President Trump’s second attempt to withdraw the US from the global health body will not be reconsidered.
