Washington, D.C., January 21, 2025 —
President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to commence the United States’ withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO), marking the second such attempt during his presidency. The order cites the WHO’s mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic, its failure to adopt necessary reforms, and its lack of independence from political influence as key reasons for the decision.
The United States has been the largest financial contributor to the WHO, accounting for nearly 20% of its $6.8 billion annual budget in 2023. This withdrawal is expected to have significant repercussions on the organization’s funding and its ability to respond to global health emergencies. While the process requires a one-year notice period during which the U.S. must fulfill its financial commitments, the executive order directs an immediate halt to the transfer of U.S. funds to the WHO.
Public health experts have raised concerns that the U.S. exit could hinder global efforts to combat diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS. Dr. Ashish Jha, former White House COVID-19 response coordinator, warned that the withdrawal weakens the organization, which heavily relies on U.S. expertise in tracking global influenza.
Lawrence Gostin, a global public health expert at Georgetown University, described the decision as “a cataclysmic presidential decision,” stating that it inflicts “a grievous wound to world health, but a still deeper wound to the U.S.”
This move follows a similar attempt in 2020, which was reversed by President Joe Biden upon taking office in 2021. The current withdrawal raises questions about the future of U.S. involvement in global health initiatives and the potential for other nations, such as China, to increase their influence within the WHO in the absence of U.S. participation.
