Donald Trump withdraws U.S. from WHO, experts warn of global health risks

By Elizabeth Chimobi

The 47th US President, Donald Trump, on his Inauguration Day on Monday signed an executive order initiating the process for the United States to withdraw from the World Health Organization (WHO).

The decision marks a major shift in U.S. foreign and health policy, with serious implications for both global health and U.S. healthcare systems.

Trump’s executive order gave several reasons for the withdrawal, including the WHO’s alleged mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic, which originated in Wuhan, China.

The order criticized the organization’s failure to implement necessary reforms and its vulnerability to political influence from member states, particularly China.

Furthermore, the U.S. has long been dissatisfied with what it described as “unfairly onerous payments” made to the WHO, which is part of the United Nations.

As part of this withdrawal process, the Trump administration has pledged to review, rescind, and replace the 2024 U.S. Global Health Security Strategy at the earliest opportunity.

During the signing of the executive orders, President Trump addressed reporters, stating, “World Health (Organization) ripped us off.”

This statement underscores the administration’s long-standing critique of the WHO, which traces back to 2020, when Trump accused the organization of being “owned and controlled by China” and failing to act swiftly enough during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.

While the Trump administration has moved forward with the decision, the WHO has expressed its commitment to working with the incoming administration.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus voiced the agency’s readiness to cooperate with the U.S. to strengthen global health security.

WHO spokesperson Tarik Jašarević in an email with USA Today stressed the importance of the U.S.-WHO partnership, noting that it has “protected and saved millions of lives in America and around the world.”

However, experts are sounding alarm bells over the consequences of the U.S. withdrawal, particularly given that the U.S. has been the largest financial contributor to the WHO since its inception in 1948.

The U.S. historically accounts for about 18% of the WHO’s total funding, with its most recent two-year budget for 2024-2025 standing at $6.8 billion.

The U.S. withdrawal from the WHO not only means the loss of its largest donor but also deprives Americans of critical health data, potentially posing severe risks to national security.

Experts warn that the withdrawal could put several key health programs at risk, including efforts to combat tuberculosis (the world’s deadliest infectious disease), HIV/AIDS, and other pressing health emergencies.

The loss of U.S. involvement could undermine efforts to address global health threats that have widespread implications for both the U.S. and the world.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which relies on the WHO for global health data, will be one of the primary agencies affected by the withdrawal. The CDC’s ability to monitor and respond to global health threats could be severely compromised, with potentially dangerous consequences for American healthcare systems.

The WHO plays an indispensable role in coordinating responses to emerging health crises, monitoring the effectiveness of vaccines and treatments, and providing expert support to countries in need.

By withdrawing, the U.S. will forfeit its seat at the table where global health standards are set, thereby diminishing its ability to influence international health policies and strategies for combating pandemics.

In 2020, Director of the Global Health Council, a U.S.-based NGO, Loyce Pace
warned that withholding funding or technical support from the WHO could jeopardize efforts like polio eradication and other vital immunization campaigns. Such disruptions could also undermine efforts to control infectious diseases, leading to another wave of economic and humanitarian crises.

A professor of global health law at Georgetown University and Director of WHO’s Centre on Global Health Law,
Lawrence Gostin called the U.S. withdrawal “the most cataclysmic decision,” describing it as a “grave wound” to American national interests and security.

He argued that it would leave U.S. agencies like the CDC and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) “flying blind,” unable to effectively respond to global health challenges.

The U.S. withdrawal from the WHO will officially take effect in one year, during which time the U.S. will cease all financial contributions to the organization’s operations.

During Trump’s first presidential term, he had previously halted funding to the WHO, but President Joe Biden reversed that decision upon taking office.

Trump’s new executive order also indicates that the U.S. will discontinue negotiations on the WHO pandemic treaty while the withdrawal is in progress.

Additionally, U.S. personnel working with the WHO will be recalled and reassigned, and the U.S. government will seek alternative partners to take over key WHO activities.

The future of U.S.-WHO relations remains uncertain, but experts agree that the consequences of this decision will resonate far beyond the United States, potentially undermining global health efforts and jeopardizing the well-being of millions around the world.

As the world faces mounting health challenges, including future pandemics, the question remains: can the U.S. afford to isolate itself from the global health community?