President Trump has signed an executive order beginning the process of U.S. withdrawal from the World Health Organization. It was between dozens of executive actions he signed after being sworn in for a second term on monday, on issues ranging from immigration Unpleasant foreign policy Unpleasant climate change.
It was the second time in less than five years that he ordered the country to withdraw from the organization, despite it being a move that many scientists fear could end decades of gains in the fight against infectious diseases such as AIDS, malaria and could reverse tuberculosis. Experts also warn that the move could weaken the world’s defenses against dangerous new outbreaks that could cause pandemics.
The WHO came under intense criticism from Mr Trump in 2020 his response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which became a global health crisis during the last year of his first term, although his threatened withdrawal was not completed.
A White House statement Monday evening said the U.S. would withdraw “due to the organization’s mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic emanating from Wuhan, China and other global health crises, its failure to implement urgently needed reforms and the inability to demonstrate independence from the undue political influence of WHO member states.”
It also accused the WHO of demanding “unreasonably burdensome payments from the United States, which are far out of proportion to those assessed by other countries.”
The order stated that Trump sent a presidential letter to the Secretary General of the United Nations to formally notify him of the U.S. plan to withdraw.
The World Health Organization responded by calling on the U.S. government to reconsider its decision to withdraw, saying in a statement that together they had “saved countless lives and protected Americans and all peoples from health threats.”
The WHO also pointed to the fact that in recent years it has implemented “the largest set of reforms in its history.”
A U.S. withdrawal from the organization would not only cut off its funding next year — the U.S. is its largest donor — but the order also directs federal government personnel to stop working with the group, which would require U.S. health officials do on a wide range of health issues. of global care.
Alexander Tin contributed to this report.