President Trump signed an executive order to withdraw the United States from the World Health Organization, citing dissatisfaction with its pandemic response and financial structure.
Sheryl Gay Stolberg reports for The New York Times.
In short:
- Trump’s executive order to leave the W.H.O. comes after years of criticism, including claims of mismanagement during COVID-19 and unfair financial demands.
- Experts warn this move could hinder global pandemic response and limit U.S. access to crucial disease data.
- The U.S. withdrawal process requires a year’s notice and financial obligations to be fulfilled under existing agreements.
Key quote:
. . . a United States withdrawal from W.H.O. would be “a grievous wound” to public health but an “even deeper wound to American national interests and national security.”
— Lawrence O. Gostin, public health law expert at Georgetown University
Why this matters:
The World Health Organization plays a critical role in global disease tracking and outbreak response. U.S. withdrawal risks compromising international efforts to combat future pandemics and weakens the nation’s global health leadership.
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