Trump transition team pushes for US withdrawal from WHO

Donald Trump’s transition team is reportedly pushing to withdraw the United States from the World Health Organization (WHO) on the first day of his new administration, sparking concerns from global health experts who warn of the devastating consequences for international health efforts.

The move, scheduled for the president-elect’s January 20 inauguration, would sever the US’s financial support from the WHO, leaving the global health body without its largest donor and threatening its ability to respond to future health crises like the COVID-19 pandemic, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

Lawrence Gostin, a professor of global health at Georgetown Law, described the potential withdrawal as “catastrophic” for global health, citing the vacuum in financing and leadership it would create. “America is going to leave a huge gap in global health financing,” he said. “I see no one that is going to fill the breach.”

The push to leave the WHO follows Trump’s 2020 decision to initiate the process of withdrawal, accusing the organization of being unduly influenced by China amid the pandemic. However, that process was never completed, and Joe Biden reversed it upon taking office in 2021. Trump’s team is now determined to move faster on the issue, with some members seeking to finalize the withdrawal immediately following the inauguration.

Ashish Jha, former White House COVID response coordinator under Biden and dean of Brown University’s School of Public Health, noted that the transition team’s desire to withdraw on day one is driven by symbolism. “There are lots of people who are going to be part of the inner circle of the administration who do not trust the WHO and want to symbolically show on day one that they are out,” Jha explained.

While some members of Trump’s team are pushing for withdrawal, others advocate for staying in the organization and focusing on reforming it. However, those in favor of severing ties appear to be gaining the upper hand.

The WHO, the primary international body for vaccine distribution and coordination during health emergencies, would face significant challenges without US participation. According to Jha, non-engagement in institutions like the WHO risks leaving the US without critical information when the next global health crisis emerges. “If you’re not engaged in these institutions, you do not have ears to the ground when the next outbreak happens,” Jha warned.

Gostin added that a US exit from the WHO would lead to a “very lean” period for the organization, forcing it to scale back its scientific staff and struggle to address health emergencies. He also expressed concern that such a move would increase China’s influence in global health governance. “It would not be a smart move as withdrawal would cede leadership to China,” he stated.

The Trump transition team declined to comment on the matter, but sources familiar with the discussions told the Financial Times that the administration sees little value in maintaining ties with the WHO. One person familiar with the plans remarked, “The same WHO that we left in the first administration? It seems like we wouldn’t much care what they have to say.”

The WHO itself has expressed a willingness to continue collaboration with the US. Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus reaffirmed the organization’s openness to working with US policymakers, saying, “We’re ready to work together. I believe US leaders understand that the US cannot be safe unless the rest of the world is safe.”

By Khagan Isayev