Days after the World Health Organization (WHO) sought US$ 1.5 billion to provide life-saving health care to millions of people in emergencies across the World, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order to begin the process of withdrawing the US from the WHO, while calling it a "big one."

After returning to the White House, President Donald Trump signed a slew of executive orders, almost 80- from pulling the US out of the Paris Agreement, to pardoning all January 6 Capitol Hill rioters. This also included an executive order withdrawing the US from the WHO. 

When the document was passed to him, Trump asked what it was and an aide responded, that it was related to "withdrawing from the World Health Organization." At this, the newly inaugurated President exclaimed, "Woo! That's a big one!" and signed it.

The executive order reads, “the United States noticed its withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2020 due to the organization’s mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic that arose out of Wuhan, China, and other global health crises, its failure to adopt urgently needed reforms, and its inability to demonstrate independence from the inappropriate political influence of WHO member states.”

“In addition, the WHO continues to demand unfairly onerous payments from the United States, far out of proportion with other countries’ assessed payments.  China, with a population of 1.4 billion, has 300 percent of the population of the United States, yet contributes nearly 90 percent less to the WHO,” the order adds. 

It also says the US will “pause the future transfer of any United States Government funds, support, or resources to the WHO; recall and reassign United States Government personnel or contractors working in any capacity with the WHO; and identify credible and transparent United States and international partners to assume necessary activities previously undertaken by the WHO."

The implications of Monday's announcement for the World Health Organization (WHO) will be far reaching. The organization stands to lose its most influential member and largest donor. In the 2022-2023 biennium, the United States contributed around $1.019 billion to WHO, accounting for 15.6 per cent of the organization's total revenue.  Germany, the second-largest sovereign donor during the same period, provided €130 million (approximately $141.87 million) in 2023.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of WHO, posted an official statement on X.com saying that they regretted the US' decision. "For over seven decades, WHO and the USA have saved countless lives and protected Americans and all people from health threats. Together, we ended smallpox, and together we have brought polio to the brink of eradication," he highlighted while also adding that they hope US would reconsider its decision.

Others at the WHO have also pointed out that Trump's move maybe violating earlier agreements and resolutions. Lawrence Gostin, Director, WHO Center on Global Health Law said the president must get congressional approval, give one year's notice and pay WHO debts.

“Trump's EO withdrawing from WHO is riddled with legal and factual errors. Trump isn't waiting a year as Congress required. He's unraveling US engagement and funding now. That's unlawful and a grave strategic error,” Lawrence Gostin added.

Across the world doctors, NGOs, healthcare workers have sharply reacted to it calling the decision as “catastrophic for global public health.”

“Hard to overstate how catastrophic this is for global public health. The WHO has helped save literally millions of lives, particularly those of children, from malnutrition, malaria, TB, HIV and other. Pure callous disregard for vulnerable humanity from Trump - as expected,” said Dr Rachel Clarke, co-founder of HospiceUkraine, a registered UK charity supporting palliative care teams across Ukraine.

However, there are many right-wing political parties, who are supporting him. In Australia, Pauline Lee Hanson, founder and leader of One Nation, a right-wing populist political party hailed the Trump for the decision, saying “Australia should affirm its sovereignty and withdraw its membership of the World Health Organisation following President Donald Trump’s withdrawal of the United States from the organisation.”

In her message shared on X, Senator Hanson said “her party had been calling for Australia to exit the WHO since 1996, a call now more urgent after revelations of the organisation’s overreaching plans to take over the country’s health system and dictate Australian health policy.”

 “The WHO has been pushing hard for a global pandemic treaty which would enable this unelected international body to effectively take over any Australian response to a future pandemic,” Senator Hanson said. 

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