Days after former President Donald Trump announced the United States’ withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO), U.S. public health officials, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), have been directed to cease all collaboration with the agency, effective immediately.
Trump has long criticized the WHO, arguing that the U.S. contributes disproportionately to its funding.
“So we paid $500 million to World Health (Organization) when I was here, and I terminated it,” Trump said. “China, with 1.4 billion people, was paying $39 million. We were paying $500 million. It seemed a little unfair to me.”
Public health experts warn that severing ties with the WHO could hinder efforts to monitor and respond to outbreaks of diseases such as Marburg virus and mpox in Africa, as well as other emerging global health threats.
Under U.S. law, withdrawal from the WHO requires congressional approval and a one-year notice period.