On Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order stating that the United States is once again withdrawing from the World Health Organization (WHO). The text of the order is published on the White House website.
This marks the second withdrawal of the U.S. from the WHO initiated by Donald Trump. Orders and directives regarding the U.S. return to this organization during the Biden administration have been revoked.
"The United States announced its withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2020 due to the organization's inadequate response to the COVID-19 pandemic that originated in Wuhan, China, as well as other global health crises, its failure to urgently implement necessary reforms, and its inability to demonstrate independence from inappropriate political influence from member states. Furthermore, the WHO continues to demand unjustly burdensome payments from the United States, which are far disproportionate to the contributions of other countries. China, with a population of 1.4 billion, which is 300% of the U.S. population, pays nearly 90% less in contributions to the WHO," the justification for the order states.
Through this order, President Trump directed the suspension of any future transfer of funds, support, or resources from the government of the United States to the WHO; to withdraw and reassign personnel or contractors of the United States government working in any capacity within the WHO; and to identify "reliable and transparent American and international partners" who could take on the necessary activities previously conducted by the WHO.
The Secretary of State is ordered to immediately inform the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the leadership about the withdrawal.