- Newly inaugurated President Trump signs an executive order to pull the US out of the World Health Organization, citing its handling of global health crises.
- The decision comes amid accusations of bias and political influence within the WHO, alongside concerns over “unfairly onerous” US contributions.
- Public health experts warn the move could impact progress on fighting diseases like HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis, as well as US global leadership in health.
President Donald Trump has signed an executive order initiating the United States’ withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO), marking his second attempt to exit the global health agency.
“This is a big one,” Trump remarked upon signing the order shortly after his arrival at the White House on his first day back in office. It was one of numerous executive actions he approved on his inaugural day.
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The decision follows Trump’s previous criticism of the WHO’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic during his first term, when he began the withdrawal process. That decision was reversed by President Joe Biden upon taking office.
The newly signed order cites several reasons for the withdrawal, including the WHO’s “mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic that arose out of Wuhan, China,” its failure to enact critical reforms, and its “inability to demonstrate independence from political influence by member states.” It also criticizes the “unfairly onerous payments” made by the US, which contributed nearly one-fifth of the WHO’s $6.8 billion annual budget in 2023.
Trump accused the organization of being overly “China-centric” in its guidance during the pandemic and suggested its bias undermined global health efforts.
While Trump hinted at the possibility of rejoining in the future, saying, “They wanted us back so badly, so we’ll see what happens,” the immediate effects of the decision have sparked concern among public health experts.
Critics argue that leaving the WHO could weaken global health initiatives and negatively impact efforts to combat diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS. Former COVID-19 response coordinator Ashish Jha warned that the move could harm both global health and US scientific leadership.
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Lawrence Gostin, a global public health expert, described the decision as “cataclysmic,” stating, “Withdrawal is a grievous wound to world health, but an even deeper wound to US influence and leadership.”
The executive order underscores Trump’s broader push to reshape US engagement with international institutions, with public health advocates urging reconsideration of the long-term implications of this withdrawal.
