Trump withdraws US from World Health Organization

Through executive order President Trump has withdrawn the U.S. from the World Health Organization (W.H.O.), a decision criticized by public health "experts." They argue it will diminish the U.S.'s global health leadership and hinder future pandemic responses.

Trump has been critical of W.H.O. since 2020, blaming it for its handling of the coronavirus. Withdrawing means the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will lose access to vital global health data.

W.H.O., founded in 1948 with U.S. support, is an agency of the United Nations and meant to tackle significant health challenges worldwide, including diseases like Zika and Ebola. Its annual budget is approximately $6.8 billion.