Trump signs order for US withdrawal from World Health Organization

The recently inaugurated 47th President of the US signed several executive orders in his first moments back in the Oval Office, one of which was a notice to withdraw the US from the World Health Organization (WHO).

Trump had previously signed a similar order in 2020, citing the WHO’s mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic and accused the organisation of accommodating “inappropriate political influence of WHO member states”. The executive order also claims disproportionate nation contributions to the organisation. Upon his election in November 2020 and following his inauguration in January 2021, former President Biden reversed the decision. Some experts expect that signing the order on the first day of Trump’s presidency will mean the US is more likely to formally leave the health agency. However, Trump did state “They wanted us back so badly so we’ll see what happens,” hinting at an eventual return.

In the Presidential Action posted on the official White House website on January 20, 2025, the same day as Trump’s inaugural ceremony, the order claims that “The United States noticed its withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2020 due to the organization’s mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic that arose out of Wuhan, China, and other global health crises, its failure to adopt urgently needed reforms, and its inability to demonstrate independence from the inappropriate political influence of WHO member states. In addition, the WHO continues to demand unfairly onerous payments from the United States, far out of proportion with other countries’ assessed payments. China, with a population of 1.4 billion, has 300 percent of the population of the United States, yet contributes nearly 90 percent less to the WHO”.

The notice also laid out actions and notifications for how and when the US intends to withdraw from the WHO, such as establishing directorates and mechanisms within the National Security Council, recalling US Government personnel from activities to do with the WHO, and officially notifying the Secretary-General of the UN and WHO leadership of the withdrawal.

Several public health experts have criticised the move as a detriment to American healthcare, with claims it could undo the progress made in fighting infectious diseases like malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDs. “Leaving harms not only the health of people around the world, but also US leadership and scientific prowess,” stated Ashish Jha, who worked on the COVID-19 response under Biden. Global public health expert and Georgetown University professor Lawrence Gostin also commented “It’s a cataclysmic presidential decision. Withdrawal is a grievous wound to world health, but still a deeper wound to the US.”

Sources:

1. Withdrawing the United States from the World Health Organization [Accessed January 21, 2025] https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/withdrawing-the-united-states-from-the-worldhealth-organization/

2. Trump orders US to leave World Health Organization [Accessed January 21, 2025] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c391j738rm3o