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Trump Pulls U.S. Out of World Health Organization

...Causing Health Concerns

On Monday, President Trump signed an order to withdraw the United States from the World Health Organization (WHO). Experts warn that this decision could harm the U.S. role in global health and make it more difficult to fight future pandemics.

In his order, Trump criticized the WHO for mishandling the COVID-19 pandemic and failing to make necessary changes. He also claimed that the organization demands “unfairly high payments” from the U.S. while China pays less.

Trump signs executive order withdrawing from the World Health Organization

Trump has been critical of the WHO since 2020, blaming it for not responding properly to the coronavirus crisis, making this withdrawal expected. He initiated the process in July 2020, but President Biden halted it after taking office on January 20, 2021.

If the U.S. leaves the WHO, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will lose access to crucial global health information. For instance, when China discovered the genetic code of the COVID-19 virus, it shared that information with the WHO, which then passed it on to other countries to aid their responses.

Some conservatives have also criticized the WHO for working on a “pandemic treaty” to improve global health and set rules for tracking diseases.

However, discussions about this treaty fell apart last year, with some U.S. lawmakers viewing it as a threat to American independence. Public health expert Lawrence O. Gostin warned that leaving the WHO could harm public health and U.S. security.

Trump orders US to leave World Health Organization - BBC News

The WHO was established in 1948 with U.S. support and operates on a budget of about $6.8 billion, with 18% coming from the United States. A U.S. withdrawal could lead to funding shortages for health programs, especially in poorer countries, disrupting efforts to manage health emergencies.

-New York Times

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