US Withdrawal from WHO: Will It Happen on January 22nd?
- The headquarters of the World Health Organization in Geneva.
- A year ago this week, President Trump initiated a divorce - of sorts.
- His executive order laid out his displeasures, including "the organization's mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic that arose out of Wuhan, China, and other global health crises, its failure...
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The headquarters of the World Health Organization in Geneva. A year ago, President Trump announced that the U.S. would withdraw from the global agency. But what about those unpaid dues.
Fabrice Coffrini/AFP/via Getty Images
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Fabrice Coffrini/AFP/via Getty Images
A year ago this week, President Trump initiated a divorce – of sorts. As night fell on his inauguration day activities, he signed an executive order saying: He wants out of the World Health Organization, or WHO.
His executive order laid out his displeasures, including “the organization’s mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic that arose out of Wuhan, China, and other global health crises, its failure to adopt urgently needed reforms, and its inability to demonstrate independence from the inappropriate“`html
United States Withdrawal from the World Health Organization
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The United States formally withdrew from the World Health Organization (WHO) on July 6, 2023, under the management of President Donald Trump, but signaled its intent to rejoin under President Joe Biden. The Biden administration formally notified the WHO of its intent to rejoin on January 20, 2021, and resumed financial obligations on February 5, 2021. Though, the issue of assessed contributions and the timing of full re-engagement remained a point of contention as of late 2023 and into 2024.
Initial Withdrawal and Justification
The initial withdrawal process began with a notification to the United Nations Secretary-General on July 6, 2023, as required by the 1948 WHO constitution. The U.S. State Department cited concerns over the WHO’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, specifically alleging that the organization was too deferential to China. President Trump repeatedly accused the WHO of mismanaging the global response and promoting misinformation.
for example, on May 29, 2020, President Trump announced his intention to withdraw, stating the WHO “failed in its basic duty” and “covered up” the severity of the initial COVID-19 outbreak in China. (White House Briefing Room, May 29, 2020)
Financial Implications and Dues
The WHO’s funding structure relies heavily on assessed contributions from member states and voluntary contributions. The united States was historically the largest single donor to the WHO, providing approximately 15% of the organization’s budget in 2019, totaling over $400 million. (Kaiser Family Foundation, updated November 21, 2023)
Following the withdrawal, the U.S. suspended its funding, creating a notable financial strain on the WHO. In 2024, the question of back dues and future assessed contributions remained unresolved. WHO officials, including Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, indicated that while financial contributions are significant, cooperation on global health security is paramount.
According to Reuters (January 26, 2024), WHO’s legal counsel, Solomon, stated that it is indeed up to the 193 member states to determine the effective date of the U.S. withdrawal, nonetheless of dues payment.
Re-engagement and Current Status
President Joe Biden pledged to rejoin the WHO upon taking office. On January 20, 2021, the U.S. formally notified the WHO of its intent to rejoin. (WHO Official Statement, January 21, 2021) The U.S. resumed financial contributions on february 5, 2021, with an initial payment of $40 million.
However, the full extent of re-engagement, including the payment of outstanding dues and a commitment to future assessed contributions, was still under discussion as of February 2024. The issue is scheduled to be discussed at the WHO Executive Board meeting in late February and again at the World Health Assembly in May.Tedros Adhanom