The United States is set to withdraw from the World Health Organization (WHO) under an executive order signed by President Trump, who criticized the agency for its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and its perceived financial demands on the U.S. According to Reuters, Trump accused the WHO of acting under "inappropriate political influence" and declared that the U.S. will cease all financial contributions, estimated at around 18% of the WHO's overall funding, in one year.

The decision will halt American support for various programs the organization oversees, including those combating tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS, leading experts to express concern about the potential ramifications for global health initiatives. Trump's stance isn't new; during his previous term, he attempted to withdraw from the WHO, claiming it was facilitating China's attempts to mislead the world about COVID-19's origins. He referred to the agency's financial structure as unfair, stating, "World Health ripped us off, everybody rips off the United States. It's not going to happen anymore."

The WHO has continually rejected accusations of bias and emphasized its commitment to transparency in reaching out to China for data regarding the virus's origins. As reported by The Guardian, Trump's latest move includes a 90-day pause on foreign development assistance to review ongoing contributions.

Under U.S. law, a withdrawal from the WHO entails one year of notice and payment of any outstanding dues. In 2020, Trump had suspended nearly $200 million in U.S. contributions to the organization while it was engaged in global efforts to manage the pandemic.

The WHO's budget for 2024-2025 stands at $6.8 billion, with the next largest contributors being the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Germany.