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Donald Trump's transition team is seeking to withdraw the United States from the World Health Organization on the first day of the new administration, according to experts who warn of the “catastrophic” impact this could have on global health.
Members of Trump's team informed experts of their intention to announce withdrawal from the World Health Organization The president-elect is inaugurated on January 20. A departure would remove the WHO's largest source of funding, hurting its ability to respond to public health crises such as the coronavirus pandemic.
“America will leave a huge void in global health funding and leadership. I don’t see anyone filling the hole,” said Lawrence Gostin, a professor of global health at Georgetown University Law School, adding that a plan to withdraw “on day one” would be “catastrophic” for global health.
The battle over US relations with the World Health Organization comes after Trump nominated several allies, such as… Vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedyfor senior health jobs in the next administration. However, Gostin said he was not sure Trump would place as high a priority on immediate withdrawal as some on his team.
The United States is the World Health Organization Largest single donorproviding about 16 percent of its financing in the period 2022-23.
In 2020, Trump began the process of leaving the World Health Organization as the coronavirus spread, accusing the agency of being controlled by China. But the process was never finished and he was succeeded by Joe Biden Resuming relationships With the agency on his first day in office in 2021.
Experts have been told that some on Trump's team want to move faster this time after starting the process immediately.
Ashish Jha, former coronavirus response coordinator in the Biden White House and dean of Brown University's School of Public Health, said the transition team wants… Trump To withdraw on the first day due to the “symbolism” of reversing Biden’s move on Inauguration Day.
“There are a lot of people who will be part of the administration's inner circle who do not trust the WHO and want to symbolically show on day one that they are outside of it,” he said.
He added that some in the team wanted to remain in the organization and push for its reform, but another group that believed in severing ties won the argument.
Bodies like from Jha said that these diseases are essential for global cooperation in developing and distributing vaccines, as well as other treatments during health emergencies.
“If you are not involved in these institutions, you will not have listening ears when the next outbreak occurs,” he warned.
Gostin said there will be “very lean years for the WHO as it will struggle to respond to health emergencies and will have to significantly reduce its scientific staff.”
He warned that if the United States leaves the WHO, European countries are unlikely to increase funding and China may try to exert more influence. “It would not be a smart move because withdrawal would cede leadership to China,” he said.
Trump's transition team did not comment directly on the potential withdrawal. One person familiar with the plans told the Financial Times: “The same WHO we left in the first administration? Looks like we wouldn't care much about what they have to say.”
The World Health Organization did not comment. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the body's director-general, said this month that it was a “unique organization” that hoped to partner with US policymakers.
“For our part, we are ready to work together,” he added. “I think U.S. leaders realize that the United States cannot be safe unless the rest of the world is safe.”
