Initial Announcement and Background
The dramatic policy shift came as President Trump signed an executive order on his first day in office to withdraw the United States from the World Health Organization (WHO), reversing a key policy decision made by the previous administration in 2021.
The executive order, issued just 8 hours after the inauguration, cites several grievances with the international health agency, including its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and what the administration characterizes as disproportionate financial demands on the United States compared to other member nations. The order specifically points to China, noting that despite having a population more than three times that of the United States, it contributes approximately 90 percent less to the organization.
🚨BREAKING: Trump withdraws from the World Health Organization (WHO) pic.twitter.com/7PlYuHcDNK
— Autism Capital 🧩 (@AutismCapital) January 21, 2025
Historical Context
This move represents a return to Trump’s previous stance from 2020, though it comes as no surprise to many observers. During his first term, Trump had been openly critical of the WHO, particularly regarding its handling of the coronavirus pandemic. His antagonism toward the organization culminated in July 2020, when he not only threatened to withhold U.S. funding but also took formal steps to initiate the withdrawal process. However, these efforts were ultimately thwarted by the 2020 election results. When Joseph R. Biden Jr. assumed the presidency on January 20, 2021, one of his first actions was to block the withdrawal from taking effect, reaffirming U.S. commitment to the global health body. Now, with Trump back in office, his long-standing position against WHO membership has finally materialized into concrete action.
Impact on U.S. Public Health Operations
Leaving the WHO would have significant operational consequences for U.S. public health institutions. Most notably, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would lose access to the global health data that the WHO regularly provides to its member nations. The importance of this data sharing was demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, when China released the genetic sequence of the novel coronavirus to WHO, which then shared this critical information with other nations, including the United States.
Expert Analysis
The implications of this withdrawal are far-reaching for both global health surveillance and American public health capabilities. Lawrence O. Gostin, a Georgetown University public health law expert involved in recent WHO negotiations, warns that the departure would constitute “a grievous wound” not only to public health but also to American national interests and security.
Implementation and Global Impact
Withdrawal Process
According to Gostin, the U.S. withdrawal from WHO cannot happen immediately. The process is governed by a joint resolution adopted by Congress when the agency was founded in 1948, which stipulates two key requirements: the United States must provide a one-year notice period and fulfill its financial obligations to the organization for the current fiscal year.
Despite these procedural requirements, the executive order outlines several immediate actions to begin the disengagement process. These include pausing future U.S. government funding to WHO and recalling American personnel and contractors currently working with the organization. This creates a complex situation where the U.S. must balance its immediate political directives with its existing legal obligations under the founding resolution.
WHO’s Current Role
The WHO, established in 1948 with substantial U.S. support, operates on an annual budget of approximately $6.8 billion and plays a vital role in global health initiatives. Its responsibilities range from providing humanitarian aid in conflict zones like Gaza to coordinating responses to emerging epidemics such as Zika, Ebola, and COVID-19.
Global Health Policy Changes
Pandemic Treaty Controversy
More recently, the WHO has become a target of conservatives over its work on a proposed pandemic treaty. This treaty was designed to strengthen pandemic preparedness and establish legally binding policies for member countries, covering areas such as pathogen surveillance, rapid sharing of outbreak data, and building up local manufacturing and supply chains for vaccines and treatments.
Origins and Objectives
The treaty negotiations began in 2021, following widespread recognition of systemic failures in the international response to the COVID-19 pandemic. A key driving factor was the inequitable distribution of vaccines observed during the crisis. WHO member countries initiated these negotiations with the goal of creating new international legal frameworks focused on pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response.
Treaty Scope
The draft treaty encompasses a broad range of measures:
- A One Health approach examining the connections between animal, human, and environmental health, including considerations of land use changes and climate impacts
- Health system preparedness and healthcare workforce development
- Technology transfer protocols
- Equitable vaccine distribution mechanisms
- Access to pathogens for research purposes
- Strengthening of global logistics and supply chain networks
Conclusion
The U.S. withdrawal from WHO represents more than just a policy reversal—it signals a fundamental shift in America’s approach to global health governance. While the procedural requirements may delay the formal separation, the immediate impacts of this decision are already being felt both domestically and internationally. The complex interplay between immediate political directives and existing international commitments underscores the challenges ahead in redefining America’s role in global health leadership and cooperation. The ramifications of this decision will likely reshape international health partnerships and pandemic preparedness strategies for years to come.
