President Donald Trump signs an order to remove the United States from the World Health Organization (WHO), citing mishandling of the coronavirus pandemic and what he perceives to have been driven by “unfair” payments. did.
The president called the WHO executive order a “big deal” when he signed it with more than 100 others when he returned to the White House on Monday.
But why did the Trump administration move to withdraw from the WHO, and what would the consequences be?
What does the executive order do?
Trump’s order suspends future transfers of U.S. government funds to the WHO, calls for recalling and redeploying federal employees and contractors who work with the WHO, and requires officials to “previously “Identify reliable and transparent U.S. and international partners to undertake the necessary activities undertaken by the United States.” WHO.
Before the United States can actually withdraw from the WHO (which it joined in 1948), it must receive Congressional approval and the United States must meet its financial obligations to the WHO for the current fiscal year.
The United States also needs to give a one-year notice period before withdrawing.
The executive order also states that the administration will review, revoke, and replace the Biden Administration’s 2024 U.S. Global Health Security Strategy as soon as practicable, which is a step forward from the previous administration’s “Strengthening Global Health Security Strategy.” “A science-based approach to
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What reasons does President Trump give for wanting to withdraw from the WHO?
“The World Health Organization is deceiving us, everyone is deceiving America, and that will never happen again,” Trump said in signing the bill.
The new U.S. government’s complaints about payments make up a significant portion of the executive order itself, with the opening line stating, “The WHO continues to require the U.S. to make unfairly disadvantageous payments that are far disproportionate to the assessed value of other countries.” “There is,” he claims.
“China, with a population of 1.4 billion and 300 percent of the population of the United States, contributes nearly 90 percent less to the WHO.”
But before mentioning funding, there has been intense criticism of the WHO’s response to the coronavirus pandemic and other global health crises, and the executive order says the agency has failed to “adopt urgently needed reforms.” “This shows that it is unable to prove its independence from inappropriate political policies.” “Impact of WHO Member States.”
Trump initially tried to withdraw from the WHO during his first term.
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In July 2020, he said the United States planned to withdraw from the WHO and stop funding the agency after claiming it was “colluding” with China to hide the extent of the spread of the coronavirus. This has been formally notified to UN Secretary-General António Guterres. in the early days of the pandemic.
He claimed the WHO supported efforts to “mislead the world” about China’s origins.
Democratic successor Joe Biden reversed Trump’s decision to leave the WHO on his first day in office in 2021, but Trump has made no secret of his intention to pick up where he left off if he wins a second term. Ta.
At a campaign rally last September, Trump said he would “stand up against corruption” at the WHO and other public health agencies, which he claimed were “controlled” by corporate power and China.
The WHO has always denied Trump’s claims of collusion with China, saying it does not know whether the new coronavirus arose from contact between humans and infected animals or from research on similar viruses in domestic laboratories. It claims that it continues to pressure the Chinese government to share data to determine whether the
What is WHO? What does the organization do?
The WHO logo at WHO headquarters in Geneva. Photo: Associated Press
It is the United Nations’ specialized health agency tasked with coordinating the world’s response to global health threats, including mpox, ebola and polio outbreaks.
It also provides technical assistance to poor countries, helps distribute vaccines, supplies and treatments, and sets guidelines for hundreds of health conditions, including mental health and cancer.
It typically advises member states on how to deal with health crises, but does not have the power to compel them to act.
What impact could a withdrawal have?
Experts say the United States, historically the largest donor and providing the country with hundreds of personnel with public health expertise, has the world’s best defense against new and dangerous outbreaks that could spark pandemics. It warns that it may weaken your defenses.
The United States has donated approximately $160 million to $815 million annually to the WHO over the past decade, contributing to an annual budget of approximately $2 billion to $3 billion.
As a result, experts say the loss of state support could cripple numerous global health efforts, including polio eradication efforts, maternal and child health programs, and research to identify emerging viral threats. It states that there is.
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Dr. Tom Frieden, president and CEO of the U.S. advocacy group Resolve to Save Lives, said in a statement: “Withdrawing from the WHO would not only reduce critical funding from the WHO, but also He would be abdicating his role as a health leader and silencing America’s voice.” In important decisions affecting global health security.
“True reform requires engagement, not abandonment. We cannot make the WHO more effective by walking away from it. This decision weakens U.S. influence and increases the risk of a deadly pandemic.”
Lawrence Gostin, director of the WHO Collaborating Center on Global Health Law at Georgetown University, warned that losing U.S. resources to the WHO would be a devastating blow to global surveillance and infectious disease control efforts. .
“This will increase the likelihood that new diseases will get out of control, cross borders, and cause pandemics,” he said.
How did the WHO respond?
In a statement released Tuesday, the WHO said it “regrets” the U.S. announcement, adding: “By addressing the root causes of disease, WHO is committed to protecting the health and safety of people around the world, including Americans.” “It plays an important role,” he added. Build stronger health systems to detect, prevent, and respond to health emergencies, including disease outbreaks, often in dangerous locations inaccessible to others.
“The United States was a founding member of the WHO in 1948 and has since participated in shaping and governing the organization’s work, including through active participation in the World Health Assembly and the Board of Directors, along with 193 other member states. .
“For more than 70 years, WHO and the United States have saved countless lives and protected Americans and all people from health threats. Together, we will eradicate smallpox and eradicate polio. It has been brought to the brink of eradication, and US agencies have contributed to and benefited from membership in the WHO.
“Over the past seven years, with the participation of the United States and other member states, WHO has implemented the largest series of reforms in its history to transform accountability, cost-effectiveness, and impact on countries. Efforts are continuing.
“We look forward to the United States reconsidering and engaging in a constructive dialogue to maintain the U.S.-WHO partnership in the interest of the health and well-being of millions of people around the world.” I’m looking forward to it.”
