The World Health Organization (WHO) said it’s already making cutbacks following President Donald Trump’s executive order directing the United States, the WHO’s largest donor, to withdraw from the group. AFP news agency obtained an email from the organization’s chief sent to staff Friday, Jan. 2, stating Trump’s decision impacts its financial situation and creates uncertainty for the WHO workforce.
According to the organization, the U.S. withdrawal will take a year to complete, with funding from the U.S. remaining in place until that point.
But despite that, a WHO spokesperson told AFP the organization is already freezing recruitment in less critical areas and cutting back on travel.
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The WHO also said it was open to constructive dialogue with the U.S. in hopes Trump would reconsider.
Why did Trump decide to leave WHO?
The White House said in a statement Monday, Jan. 20, that the U.S.’s decision to withdraw from the WHO is a result of “the organization’s mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic that arose out of Wuhan, China, and other global health crises, its failure to adopt urgently needed reforms, and its inability to demonstrate independence from the inappropriate political influence of WHO member states.”
Where does the WHO go from here?
The WHO also told AFP that Trump’s decision will impact the critical information it shares with the U.S., noting the bird flu outbreak, which has infected dozens of people and has killed one person in the U.S.
The WHO said for now, it’s working to expand its funding base and continues to rely on support from its member states.
In its 2022-23 budget, the U.S. pitched in $1.3 billion, which is about 16% of the WHO’s total budget.
