US Ditches WHO: Taxpayer Savings or Global Health Gamble?
Published Date: 1/29/2025
Presidential Document
Summary
The U.S. is officially pulling out of the World Health Organization because it feels the WHO mishandled COVID-19, demands unfair payments, and is too politically influenced. This means stopping all U.S. funding and support to the WHO, moving staff away, and finding new partners to handle global health tasks. These changes start right away and aim to protect public health while saving taxpayer money.
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 2 costs, 3 mixed.
Pause of U.S. Funding and Support to WHO
The United States will pause the future transfer of any United States Government funds, support, or resources to the World Health Organization. This action is ordered in the Executive Order signed January 20, 2025.
Recall and Reassign U.S. Personnel and Contractors
The order directs the recall and reassignment of United States Government personnel or contractors working in any capacity with the World Health Organization. That direction is to be carried out with all practicable speed from the January 20, 2025 order.
Identify Partners to Assume WHO Activities
The Secretary of State and the Director of OMB are directed to identify credible and transparent United States and international partners to assume activities previously undertaken by the WHO. This identification is ordered to proceed with all practicable speed under the January 20, 2025 order.
Halt Pandemic Agreement and IHR Negotiations
While withdrawal is in progress, the Secretary of State will cease negotiations on the WHO Pandemic Agreement and the amendments to the International Health Regulations, and actions taken to effectuate such agreement and amendments will have no binding force on the United States.
Replace U.S. Global Health Security Strategy
The Director of the White House Office of Pandemic Preparedness and Response Policy is directed to review, rescind, and replace the 2024 U.S. Global Health Security Strategy as soon as practicable under the January 20, 2025 order.
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