What does the order say?
The order says the U.S. withdrew “due to the organization’s mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
President Trump’s long-standing antipathy towards the WHO is rooted in the perception that it is controlled and too lenient by China, and the president has long believed that China is to blame for the spread of the virus.
It also cited “unreasonably burdensome payments” made by the United States to the WHO.
What are the obstacles?
This is the second time President Trump has ordered the United States to withdraw from the WHO. He initiated the process, and Biden reversed the decision after taking office.
The U.S. withdrawal will not take effect until 2026 at the earliest, but any withdrawal would require Congressional approval.
In theory, Republicans have a majority in both houses of Congress. But the numerical advantage is small, and it only takes a few Republican defectors to thwart the move.
What are the potential impacts?
Some global public health experts have described it as “catastrophic”, “disastrous” and “harmful”.
The United States is by far the largest individual donor among the WHO’s 196 member countries, contributing nearly one-fifth of the WHO’s total budget.
Funding could disappear almost overnight, impacting WHO’s ability to respond to emergencies.
It also leaves the United States isolated when it comes to pandemic preparedness and access to programs such as the sequencing of seasonal influenza strains used to develop the annual flu vaccine, which some scientists believe There are also concerns that this may be the case.
It could ultimately harm the health of Americans and America’s national interests.
Some argue that a US withdrawal could prompt further reforms to the way the WHO works, making the agency better responsive to the public health needs of people around the world.
