Trump Signs Executive Order to Withdraw U.S. from World Health Organization
TL/DR –
US President Donald Trump issued an executive order on his first day in office, announcing the US’s withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO). Trump cited the WHO’s mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic and other global health crises, its failure to adopt urgent reforms, and its lack of independence from the political influence of its member states as reasons for his decision. The move has been viewed as problematic by many, with concerns raised about the loss of access to global health data, the potential increase in China’s influence over the WHO, and the legality and strategic wisdom of the decision.
Trump Signs Order to Withdraw US from WHO
On his first day in office, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to withdraw the United States from the World Health Organization (WHO). The move was attributed to what he called the WHO’s mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic and other global health crises, and its inability to demonstrate independence from political influence.
WHO Responds to US Withdrawal
The WHO responded with regret, highlighting the organization’s crucial role in global health and the longstanding partnership with the United States in combating diseases such as smallpox and polio. The WHO, which comprises 194 member states, leads global efforts to address health challenges and advance the well-being of people worldwide, as stated in its “About” section.
Implications of the US Withdrawal
The New York Times reported that the move could impact the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s access to global data provided by the WHO and expose the US to potential health threats. Trump’s decision was also criticized as threatening American sovereignty by some Republican lawmakers, as it might allow China to fill the resultant political vacuum and gain more international influence, according to Dr. Ashish Jha, President Joe Biden’s former COVID-19 response coordinator and the Dean of the Brown University School of Public Health, who spoke to CNN.
Legal and Strategic Concerns about US Withdrawal
Professor Lawrence Gostin, a public health law expert at Georgetown University, tweeted that Trump’s move was a “cataclysmic presidential decision” and detrimental to global and US health. Jha warned that the withdrawal weakens the WHO, which heavily relies on US expertise, especially in tracking global influenza. The order, which halts future transfer of US government funds and resources for the WHO, has been criticized as unlawful and strategically flawed. Trump’s decision, however, does not factually comply with the requirement of waiting a year before withdrawal from the WHO and the obligation to continue funding it for a year, Gostin added in another tweet.
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