Trump's Executive Order Impinges WHO Ops

The United States has announced its withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO), a move that raises significant concerns due to the US being its largest donor, contributing nearly 18 per cent of the funding. This decision creates a major funding gap for the WHO. What immediate actions will the organisation and its member states take to address this shortfall, and how might it reshape the global leadership landscape in health governance? Let's find out.

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Soon after being sworn in as the 47th President of the United States, Donald Trump signed an Executive Order to withdraw the US from the WHO, citing its mishandling of COVID-19, its failure to adopt urgently needed reforms, and its inability to demonstrate independence from the inappropriate political influence of WHO member states. This marks the second time President Trump has announced such a move, the first being during his first term in 2020, but President Joe Biden halted that decision.

Although there are still technical hurdles, countries cannot withdraw from the WHO until a year after giving official notice. Nonetheless, this has created a degree of tension for the WHO, and experts are concerned about the potential consequences. The United States, as the largest donor and key partner, plays a crucial role in funding WHO operations through both assessed contributions and voluntary funding. In the 2022–2023 biennium, the US contributed $1.284 billion, enabling the WHO and its partners to respond to emergencies, prevent disease threats from spreading, and advance vital global health priorities.

“Firstly, it’s not clear what the US withdrawal means. The administration’s disregard for the rule of law means it might not matter, but it is unclear whether the US can withdraw its membership and assess contributions. Voluntary contributions and coordination can and have been cut off, which will undermine both WHO’s capabilities and US soft power,” said