In another instance of what has been a trend during his presidency, President Trump announced last week that the United States would be terminating its relationship, and therefore its funding, of another international organization, this time the World Health Organization. Trump announced on April 15 that “the WHO failed in its basic duty and must be held accountable” for its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and that the United States would be leaving the organization. On May 29, Trump officially announced the end of US ties with the organization. This announcement comes during the middle of a global pandemic as not just the United States, but the entire globe struggles to deal with the effects of COVID-19, the virus which has already killed more than 376 thousand people worldwide.
The president’s announcement came as a result of what he considered failing to do enough to stop the spread of the virus when it first appeared in China, and from Chinese pressure on the WHO to mislead the world regarding the COVID-19 virus and its spread.
What is the WHO?
The World Health Organization is an agency of the United Nations responsible for public health. The organization was designed to allow coordination between member states on issues related to international health policy. Individual members of the United Nations make voluntary contributions to fund the organization with the majority of funding coming from the United States, who contributed over $800 million to the organization during the 2018-2019 cycle, more than twice that of the next largest contributor, the United Kingdom.
Trump’s Issues with the WHO
Not the first time the president has spoken out regarding an international organization and what he sees as the United States being taken advantage of, Trump has expressed several issues with the WHO including:
- Not holding China accountable for what seems to be inaccurate COVID-19 case counts, deaths, and the extent of the spread of the disease within China
- Refusing to share accurate and timely data, viral samples and isolates, withholding vital information about the virus and its origins
- Increased influence from China on the world stage and their increased ability to influence the WHO
- Concerns about WHO officials’ praise of Chinese “transparency”
- WHO ignoring warnings about the virus from Taiwan
- WHO repeating claims by Chinese officials that COVID-19 can not be spread from person-to-person
- Opposition from WHO officials on Trump’s travel ban on China
Critics of the organization have noted that more powerful countries with larger contributions are able to hold sway over the organization in ways that other countries may not be able to. Trump’s call to remove the US from the WHO as a result of China’s increased influence over the organization is reminiscent of the Soviet Union’s own decision to leave the organization during a period of the Cold War as a result of what it saw as too much influence by the United States. Still, the president’s announcement to leave during the time of a global pandemic has drawn criticism from many who see the move as endangering the WHO’s ability to support global efforts to work towards developing a vaccine for the COVID-19 virus.
Trump alleges that “Chinese officials ignored their reporting obligations to the World Health Organization and pressured the World Health Organization to mislead the world when the virus was first discovered by Chinese authorities.” Among Trump’s complaints is the slow response of the organization in the early days and their reliance on the Chinese government’s figures regarding the virus, figures that many authorities have questioned, not just Trump.
A WHO Without the USA
Trump’s call to end the United States’ involvement with the WHO has received both support and criticism from many inside the US and out. Among those supporting his decision are North Dakota Sen. Kevin Cramer and South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham. Cramer stated that he is “glad our taxpayer dollars will now be used for other global health efforts,” and Graham called cutting off funding at this time “the right move.”
Among those who have expressed issues with the president’s decision are West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin III and Tennessee Sen. Lamar Alexander. Manchin has expressed his opposition to the president’s decision by calling the move “reckless”, but barring any opposition, Trump is committed to carrying out his plan. The US is the only member state that can legally withdraw from the WHO, and their exit prompts many questions as to how the WHO and its remaining member countries will respond and react. The US contribution to the WHO makes up approximately 14% of its total contributions, a significant chunk, and one that allows great influence over the organization. At this time, it is unsure whether the other member countries will increase the amount of their contributions to make up for the loss, or if the organization will continue on underfunded compared to what it is used to.
How This Could Affects The US
The US risks a huge loss in global influence with regards to health research and policy by leaving. As the largest contributor, the US holds great ability to influence and lead the organization, and leaving would forfeit much of that influence on the world stage. The loss of that influence undercuts the WHO’s ability to combat the virus and work towards developing a vaccine as quickly as possible.
Pulling out of the WHO due to criticism of Chinese influence may prove to be counterproductive for the US as the loss of the US in the organization will only create a vacuum that will be filled by even greater Chinese influence over the organization and global health policy. Rather than be at the forefront of global health policy, the US will see itself become a spectator to China’s rise.
Supporters of the move see this as an opportunity for the US to have greater control over where taxpayer money goes when it is applied to global health organizations. It can do this while eschewing the bureaucracy and red tape that comes from dealing with a large international organization such as the WHO and its increasing Chinese influence. The US can directly provide funding to hospitals, NGOs and other organizations dedicated to global health such as Doctors Without Borders or the Red Cross. Time will tell in what ways this decision by the president will affect the US, but the world will continue on in whatever way possible to develop a vaccine for the COVID-19 virus.