On his first day back in office, President Donald Trump has signed an executive order initiating the US withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO).
This marks the second time Trump has attempted to remove the US from the global health body, having previously begun the withdrawal process during his first term, a decision later reversed by President Biden.
Trump cited the WHO's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, alleging mishandling, a failure to implement necessary reforms, and undue influence from member states, particularly China. He also criticized the US's financial contributions to the WHO as "unfairly onerous payments." The executive order explicitly mentions the pandemic's origin in Wuhan, China, further highlighting Trump's previous criticisms of the organization's alleged pro-China bias.
The move is likely to result in the US formally leaving the WHO, although Trump hinted at the possibility of a future return. During his presidency, the US was the WHO's largest financial contributor, providing nearly one-fifth of its $6.8 billion annual budget in 2023.
Public health experts have strongly condemned the decision, warning of potential negative consequences for global health initiatives and US leadership in combating infectious diseases like malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS.
According to the BBC, concerns have been raised about the impact on American health and the country's scientific standing on the world stage. Experts like Ashish Jha and Lawrence Gostin have described the decision as "cataclysmic" and a "grievous wound" to both global and US health.