Members of Donald Trump’s transition team are reportedly pushing for the United States to withdraw from the World Health Organization (WHO) on the first day of his potential second term, a move that experts warn could have “catastrophic” consequences for global health. According to Financial Times, the plan to exit the WHO is expected to be announced on January 20, coinciding with Trump’s inauguration.
The WHO, which is the world’s leading global health agency, relies heavily on US funding, with the US providing around 16% of its total budget in 2022-2023. A US departure would create a significant financial void, undermining the organization’s ability to address global health crises like pandemics. Lawrence Gostin, a global health expert and professor at Georgetown Law, called the potential withdrawal “catastrophic” for global health, warning that “America is going to leave a huge vacuum in global health financing and leadership.”
This move follows Trump’s previous attempt to withdraw from the WHO in 2020, during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, when he accused the agency of being under China’s influence. Although the withdrawal process was initiated, it was never completed, and President Joe Biden reversed the decision on his first day in office in 2021, restoring US relations with the WHO.
However, according to experts, there is a faction within Trump’s team eager to act swiftly on the withdrawal, with some officials seeking to move faster this time around. Ashish Jha, former White House COVID response coordinator under Biden, suggested the transition team wanted to exit the WHO for symbolic reasons, reversing Biden’s inauguration-day move. “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 said.
The WHO plays a crucial role in global cooperation on vaccine distribution and other health responses during emergencies. Jha warned that detachment from such organizations would isolate the US, making it harder to respond to future global health threats. “If you’re not engaged in these institutions, you do not have ears to the ground when the next outbreak happens,” he emphasized.
If the US follows through on this plan, the WHO would face significant challenges in responding to future health emergencies. Gostin added that the agency would struggle with limited resources, likely having to reduce its scientific staff, and warned that European countries are unlikely to fill the gap in funding. Moreover, China could gain more influence in the absence of the US. “It would not be a smart move as withdrawal would cede leadership to China,” he stated.
The Trump transition team did not provide an official comment on the withdrawal plans. One source familiar with the situation told Financial Times, “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 did not comment on the matter. Its director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, reiterated the organization’s openness to working with US policymakers, emphasizing that “the US cannot be safe unless the rest of the world is safe.”
