U.S. Plans to Withdraw from WHO (World Health Organization)

In January 2025, just after taking office for Second term, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order to withdraw the United States from the World Health Organization (WHO). This is the second time Trump has attempted to withdraw from the WHO.

In 2020, during the pandemic and toward the end of his first term, Trump submitted a letter to the Secretary-General of the United Nations stating the U.S.’s intention to withdraw. But after he lost the 2020 election, the threat did not materialize. On his first day in office, Jan. 20, 2021, former President Joseph R. Biden Jr. blocked it from going into effect.

 

Why U.S. Plans to Withdraw from WHO?

In an executive order issued about eight hours after he took the oath of office, Mr. Trump cited a string of reasons for U.S. Plans to Withdraw from WHO, including the W.H.O.’s “mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic,” and the “failure to adopt urgently needed reforms.” He said the agency demands “unfairly onerous payments” from the United States, and complained that China pays less.

What does the executive order say?

Trump’s executive order highlights four key things that will happen as the US exits from the global health organisation:

— One, any transfer of US funds and resources to the WHO will be paused.

— Two, all US government personnel or contractors working in any capacity with the WHO will be recalled.

— Three, the United States will “identify credible and transparent United States and international partners to assume necessary activities previously undertaken by the WHO.”

— Four, and importantly, the United States will cease negotiations towards the pandemic treaty the WHO is working on. The accord aims to better prepare countries to respond to pandemics, create a framework for global cooperation if a pandemic happens, and develop mechanisms for equitably sharing medical countermeasures such as drugs and vaccines. “… actions taken to effectuate such agreement and amendments will have no binding force on the United States,” the executive order says.

How Can the U.S. Withdraw from WHO? What happens next?

There is no provision for withdrawing in WHO’s constitution.

In the WHO's agreement with the U.S., the U.S. would provide one year’s advance notice and pay any remaining balance to the organization in order to leave. But that agreement, made in 1948 when the WHO had just been created, was made through a joint act of Congress. It’s not clear whether Congress would have to act to implement the withdrawal.

What will be the financial implication on World Health Organization (WHO)?

Withdrawal of the United States is likely to have a huge financial impact on the WHO, with the agency receiving around a fifth of its funds from the country.

— The U.S. is giving about 20% of its budget. In assessed contributions, the United States is the biggest payer, accounting for 22.5% of the contributions, followed by China at 15%. Of the total USD 578 million assessed contributions, the United States pays approximately USD 138 million and China USD 87.6 million. In voluntary contributions, while the US is still the biggest donor, accounting for around 13% (USD 356.3 million) of the total contributions in 2023, China accounted for only about 0.14% of the total contributions (USD 3.9 million). The second biggest voluntary contributor was the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

— This loss could also weaken WHO’s political influence, as the U.S. is a key member and has been involved in decision-making since WHO was created in 1948.

— WHO works closely with the U.S. on many of these programs, so losing that partnership could slow down or even harm these efforts. Many scientists from the U.S. work with WHO on health issues. If the U.S. pulls out, WHO could lose valuable expertise, which could affect its ability to respond to health emergencies or improve healthcare worldwide.

— These countries also benefit from joint efforts between WHO and U.S. agencies like USAID (United States Agency for International Development). If the U.S. withdraws, it could make it harder for these countries to get the support they need.

WHO's Response:

WHO expressed disappointment, saying it regretted the U.S. decision. They pointed out that the U.S. has helped save millions of lives through its work with WHO, including efforts to eliminate smallpox and nearly wipe out polio. Also said that the U.S. has been an important part of its reforms and that they hope the U.S. will reconsider.

Will India be impacted?

With WHO losing out on a significant proportion of its funding, its work across countries, including India, is likely to be affected. The WHO participates in and supports several health programmes of the Indian government, such as its work on neglected tropical diseases, HIV-malaria-and tuberculosis, anti-microbial resistance (AMR), among others. Importantly, it plays a significant role in the country’s immunisation programme, with WHO teams even monitoring vaccine coverage. In addition, the loss of expertise from the United States would also impact WHO’s role of providing guidance.

Importantly, this will also sever the collaboration between the WHO and the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which is key to international surveillance and response to health threats.

What is the role of India and the global south?

The vacuum created by the United States is likely to be filled by China and countries from the Global South, including India. A policy piece by ORF said that Europe could be another contender, but a considerable amount of its resources is diverted towards the Russia-Ukraine conflict, “indicating that the lacuna will be filled by philanthropies like the BMGF (Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation).”

Have countries withdrawn from the WHO before?

In 1949, a year after the WHO’s creation, the then Soviet Union and a number of satellite states in Eastern Europe withdrew as Cold War tensions mounted. However, they returned in 1956.

World Health Organization (WHO)

— Established in 1948, specialized agency of the United Nations (UN). Promote international cooperation for improved public health and the attainment of "the highest possible level of health" for all people. WHO defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”

— History:

• Inherited tasks from the Health Organization of the League of Nations (1923) and the International Office of Public Health (Paris, 1907).

• World Health Day: Celebrated annually on April 7th, the date of WHO's establishment (1948).

— WHO's Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland and has six regional offices globally.

India and WHO

— India became a member of the WHO Constitution on January 12, 1948.

— First session of WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia held in India on October 4-5, 1948. Inaugurated by Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, addressed by WHO Director-General Dr. Brock Chisholm.

— India is a Member State of the WHO South-East Asia Region. WHO Country Office for India is based in Delhi with a nationwide presence.