U.S. to Exit WHO: Trump’s Bold Declaration

On Jan 21, 2025

The Impact of US Withdrawal from the World Health Organization

As one of the many promises made pre-election, the former President, Donald Trump, initiated the process of terminating the U.S. membership from the World Health Organization (WHO). This process began in the wake of his inauguration and is set to have far-reaching implications for the United Nations agency that oversees global health issues.

Trump’s Strained Relationship with WHO

The ex-President’s dissatisfaction with WHO has roots in the COVID era, with him frequently criticizing the organization for what he perceived as a sluggish response to the pandemic. Furthermore, he accused WHO of being “owned and controlled by China“. He declared, during a casual discussion with reporters, “World Health ripped us off.”

Countdown to Official Withdrawal

The official US withdrawal from WHO, according to the terms agreed upon when the U.S. joined the global health body in 1948, will take a year to complete. During Trump’s first term, he ceased funding to WHO and set the withdrawal process in motion. However, upon President Biden taking office and before reaching the one-year mark, the course of action was immediately reversed.

Consequences for WHO

The fallout from the Monday announcement for WHO is significant. As their largest donor, contributing $1.284 billion in 2022 and 2023, and arguably their most important member, the US withdrawal represents a substantial loss for the organization.

Implications for the US

The decision to withdraw from WHO has been met with criticism, with opponents suggesting that the U.S. will also bear the brunt of the consequences. WHO, as a global health watchdog, monitors global health threats, assesses new vaccines and medications, and coordinates responses to emerging and ongoing health crises. The U.S. risks losing access to critical outbreak data and a seat at the table when health standards and disease responses are determined.

According to Lawrence Gostin, a professor of global health law at Georgetown University, this is a severe blow to America’s national interests and security.

Alternative Avenues in the Global Health Arena

Despite the significant drawbacks, some believe that the Trump Administration can maintain leadership in the global health arena outside of WHO. Brett Schaefer, a research fellow at the Heritage Foundation, suggests that there’s a precedent for addressing pandemic issues outside of WHO, citing UNAIDS, GAVI (The Vaccine Alliance), and the Global Fund as examples.