Withdrawing the United States From the World Health Organization
United States Formally Withdraws From World Health Organization
What it does
Agencies must pause U.S. funding to the WHO, recall U.S. staff, and identify partners to assume WHO activities.
Real-world impact
- Halts future U.S. funding and other support to the WHO.
- Requires recall or reassignment of U.S. government workers and contractors with WHO.
- Ends U.S. participation in WHO negotiations and removes binding force.
Topics
Summary
This order directs the United States to withdraw from the World Health Organization and revokes the prior retraction of the earlier withdrawal notice. It says the WHO mishandled COVID-19, failed to adopt needed reforms, showed inappropriate political influence, and demanded unfair payments from the United States.
The order requires the Secretary of State to notify the United Nations and WHO, pauses future U.S. funding and support, recalls U.S. personnel working with WHO, directs the White House pandemic office to replace the 2024 health security strategy, and stops U.S. negotiations on new WHO agreements.
Questions, answered
Ask questions about this executive order and its implications. Try:
- “What agencies are affected by this order?”
- “How does this order change existing policy?”
- “What are the practical implications of this order?”