US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order initiating the process of withdrawing the United States from the World Health Organization (WHO).
“Oooh, that’s a big one,” the newly inaugurated president remarked as he signed the document upon returning to the White House. This action is one of several executive orders he approved on his first day in office.
This marks the second instance in which Trump has directed the US to exit the WHO. During his previous term, he criticized the organization’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and began the withdrawal process, a decision later reversed by President Joe Biden.
By acting on this executive order on his first day, Trump increases the likelihood of the US formally leaving the Geneva-based agency.
“They wanted us back so badly so we’ll see what happens,” Trump said in the Oval Office, referring to the WHO, perhaps hinting the US might return eventually.
The order said the US was withdrawing “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”.
The executive order also said the withdrawal was the result of “unfairly onerous payments” the US made to the WHO, which is part of the United Nations.
When Trump was still in office the first time around he was critical of the organization for being too “China-centric” in its tackling of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Trump accused the WHO of being biased towards China in how it issued guidance during the outbreak.
Under the Biden administration the US continued to be the largest funder of the WHO and in 2023 it contributed almost one-fifth of the agency’s budget.
The organization’s annual budget is $6.8 billion (£5.5 billion).
Public health experts have been critical of Trump’s decision to leave the WHO, warning there could be consequences for Americans’ health.
Some have suggested the move could reverse progress made on fighting infectious diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis and Hiv & Aids.
Ashish Jha, who formerly worked as Covid-19 response co-ordinator under President Biden, previously warned leaving would “harm not only the health of people around the world, but also US leadership and scientific prowess”.
“It’s a cataclysmic presidential decision. Withdrawal is a grievous wound to world health, but a still deeper wound to the US,” Lawrence Gostin, a global public health expert and Georgetown University professor said.