President Donald Trump has officially signed an executive order initiating the United States’ withdrawal from the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The newly inaugurated US president remarked, “Oooh, that’s a big one,” as he signed the document upon his return to the White House. On his first day in office, he signed a multitude of executive actions.
This is the second time that Trump has directed the United States to withdraw from the World Health Organisation.
Trump strongly criticized the international body’s management of the COVID-19 crisis and initiated the withdrawal process from the Geneva-based institution amid the pandemic. President Joe Biden subsequently overturned that decision.
Implementing this executive action on the first day increases the likelihood that the United States will officially withdraw from the global agency.
In a statement made from the Oval Office, Trump remarked, “They wanted us back so badly, so we’ll see what happens,” alluding to the World Health Organisation and suggesting the possibility of a future return by the United States.
The directive indicated that the United States was pulling out “because of the organization’s poor management of the Covid-19 pandemic that originated in Wuhan, China, along with other international health emergencies, its lack of necessary reforms, and its failure to show independence from undue political pressure exerted by member states of the WHO”.
The executive order stated that the withdrawal stemmed from what it described as “unfairly onerous payments” made by the United States to the World Health Organisation, a United Nations agency.
During his first term in office, Trump expressed criticism of the organization, alleging that it was overly focused on China in its response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Trump levelled accusations against the World Health Organisation, claiming it demonstrated bias in favour of China regarding its guidance during the outbreak.
During the Biden administration, the United States maintained its position as the largest contributor to the World Health Organisation, providing nearly 20% of the agency’s budget in 2023.
The organization’s annual budget is $6.8 billion, equivalent to £5.5 billion.
Public health experts have expressed concerns regarding Trump’s decision to withdraw from the WHO, cautioning that this move may have significant implications for Americans’ health.
Concerns have been raised that this decision might undermine advancements in the battle against infectious diseases, including malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS.
Ashish Jha, the former COVID-19 response coordinator under President Biden, has issued a stark warning about the potential consequences of withdrawal, stating that it would “harm not only the health of people around the world but also US leadership and scientific prowess.”
It is a monumental decision made by the president. “Withdrawal represents a significant setback for global health, but it inflicts an even greater injury on the United States,” stated Lawrence Gostin, a prominent global public health expert and professor at Georgetown University.
