On First Day, Trump Withdraws U.S. from WHO, Cuts Off $200 Million Funding

Jan 21, 2025, 01:37 AM

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order withdrawing the United States from the World Health Organization (WHO). The move, announced on his first day in office, cuts ties with the United Nations' public health agency and removes one of its largest funding sources. The United States is the WHO's largest individual contributor, providing around 16% of the organization's annual budget, or over $200 million annually. Trump has criticized the WHO's funding policies, noting that the US pays more than China despite China's larger population. He has also been critical of the WHO's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and other international health crises.