The newly elected US President Donald Trump finally took over office and became the official 47th President on the 20th of January 2025. A whole lot of executive order were signed on the very first day of tenure. One of such major decisions announced on Monday was the United States of America withdrawing from the World Health Organisation. This will definitely count as one of the major announcements made marking the start of Trump’s second term. The decision will expectedly impact both the WHO as well as the States. If you wish to find out the reasons behind Trump’s withdrawing the US from WHO and its implications, this article brings you just that. It is a detailed explanation of everything we know so far about the withdrawal.
The Official Executive Order From The 47th US President Over Withdrawals From WHO
President Trump right after taking office for the second time signed the executive order of withdrawing the US from WHO. The States is expected to leave the global organization of health within a year of the announcement. The president has assigned this task to the newly confirmed Secretary Marco Rubio.
It is not necessary for the Congress to agree. However, according to the 1948 US resolution the United States of America must pay its dues. Despite this, Trump reportedly ordered Marco Rubio to halt all future transfers of funds, support, or any other resources from the US government to WHO.
Trump has also ordered a recall as well as reassigning two officials to the personnel or the contractors that were actively working with WHO. He also directed to find the US as well as interested partners to perform the necessary activities which WHO previously performed. He mentioned that these partners should be transparent as well as credible. The negotiations over the Pandemic agreement will cease as well.
The order also states that the actions that were taken last year for the implementation of amendments to the International Health Regulations will have no binding effect on the US.
What Was The Reason Behind Trump Withdrawing US From WHO?
There are a number of reasons behind Trump withdrawing the US from WHO. One of the most important reasons among these was the WHO’s mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as other major health crises. According to the States, the global healthcare organization failed to adopt the reforms that were urgently needed.
It also stated that the organization is unable to demonstrate independence from undue and inappropriate political influence from the member states. The US also complained that the organization is demanding unfairly onerous payments from it. The notice to the organization also noted that China pays far less even though it has a population larger than the United States.
Similar Decision From Trump In His First Term
This decision from Trump was highly anticipated. This is because Trump already made a similar decision in the first term back in 2020. He issued a notice to the World Health Organisation for its inability to operate independently. However, when Biden took over the office as the 46th president of the United States of America, he reversed this order immediately. This decision in Trump’s second tenure was expected and he issued the executive order on his very first day in office as the 47th President of the United States.
How Will The Decision Affect the World Health Organisation?
Trump’s decision of the US taking an exit from the World Health Organisation will have major implications for the organization. The United States of America is currently one of the biggest financial backers of the organization. It contributes to around 18% of the overall funding from the WHO members. It was on top of the list as the country that funds the global fight against diseases like HIV.
The exit of the United States from the membership of the World Health Organisation will severely affect the ongoing programs. The experts are actively warning against the decision. They mentioned that it will weaken the world’s defenses against dangerous disease outbreaks.
Trump in his second tenure ordered a halt on all the transfers of funds to the organization that cost the US around $200 million in the pandemic era. The mandatory membership fees that the US pays range from around $163 million to $816 million in recent times.
How Will The Decision Affect the United States Of America?
According to the critics, it is impossible for the country to not suffer any implications from the decision. The US will lose its access to the global network that sets the composition for flu vaccines every year. It will also expectedly weaken the disease control as well as the prevention ability.
American drugmakers also fear that they will lose the support they receive from WHO in selling their products on a global scale. The organization endorses vaccines, medications, as well as other medical devices for underdeveloped countries. Trump’s decision will expectedly have a major impact on the healthcare industry of the United States.
Conclusion
The executive order issued by Donald Trump on the 20th of January 2025 as soon as he took over the office will have major implications on both sides. The World Health Organisation will suffer major financial loss and the decision will impair various healthcare programmes. While the United States of America will lose significant networking across the globe and the healthcare industry will face major consequences. It’s interesting to see the reactions of people across the globe and how the decision will ultimately affect the world.
