WITHDRAWING THE UNITED STATES FROM THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
This executive order directs the withdrawal of the United States from the World Health Organization (WHO).
The order cites the WHO’s mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic, its lack of reform, and its susceptibility to political influence as justifications.
Specific actions include halting funding, recalling personnel, finding alternative partners, and revising the US Global Health Security Strategy.
The order also revokes previous presidential actions related to reversing the initial withdrawal decision.
Arguments For
- Intended benefits: The order aims to improve US control over global health initiatives and reduce financial contributions deemed disproportionate to other nations. It seeks to address concerns about the WHO's effectiveness and independence.
- Evidence cited: The order cites the WHO's perceived mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic, failure to implement reforms, and susceptibility to political influence among member states. It also points to the US's comparatively higher financial contribution to the WHO.
- Implementation methods: The order outlines specific actions, including halting funding transfers to the WHO, recalling US personnel, identifying alternative international partners, and reviewing/replacing the US Global Health Security Strategy.
- Legal/historical basis: The order is issued under the President's constitutional authority and the laws of the United States.
Arguments Against
- Potential impacts: Withdrawal could negatively impact global collaborations to address pandemics and other health crises, potentially harm US influence in international health policy, and create gaps in global health security mechanisms.
- Implementation challenges: Securing alternative partnerships and maintaining effective response capabilities without the WHO will require significant resources and negotiations. The transition may lead to temporary disruption of ongoing efforts.
- Alternative approaches: Reform efforts within the WHO, increased US engagement in internal WHO decision-making, or strategic partnerships with a subset of WHO member states could address concerns without full withdrawal.
- Unintended effects: The withdrawal could damage US credibility on the international stage, possibly fostering mistrust and harming diplomatic relations with other nations. It may lead to a lack of information sharing which is crucial for effective global health responses.
Section 1. Purpose. The United States noticed its withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2020 due to 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. In addition, the WHO continues to demand unfairly onerous payments from the United States, far out of proportion with other countries’ assessed payments. China, with a population of 1.4 billion, has 300 percent of the population of the United States, yet contributes nearly 90 percent less to the WHO.
This section explains the reasons behind the US withdrawal from the WHO. It highlights concerns about the organization's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, its lack of reform, its susceptibility to political influence, and the perceived unfairness of US financial contributions compared to other nations, particularly China.
Sec. 2. Actions. (a) The United States intends to withdraw from the WHO. The Presidential Letter to the Secretary-General of the United Nations signed on January 20, 2021, that retracted the United States’ July 6, 2020, notification of withdrawal is revoked.
(b) Executive Order 13987 of January 25, 2021 (Organizing and Mobilizing the United States Government to Provide a Unified and Effective Response to Combat COVID–19 and to Provide United States Leadership on Global Health and Security), is revoked.
(c) The Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs shall establish directorates and coordinating mechanisms within the National Security Council apparatus as he deems necessary and appropriate to safeguard public health and fortify biosecurity.
(d) The Secretary of State and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall take appropriate measures, with all practicable speed, to:
(i) pause the future transfer of any United States Government funds, support, or resources to the WHO;
(ii) recall and reassign United States Government personnel or contractors working in any capacity with the WHO; and
(iii) identify credible and transparent United States and international partners to assume necessary activities previously undertaken by the WHO.
(e) The Director of the White House Office of Pandemic Preparedness and Response Policy shall review, rescind, and replace the 2024 U.S. Global Health Security Strategy as soon as practicable.
This section details the actions taken to implement the withdrawal.
It revokes prior actions attempting to reverse the withdrawal, instructs the halting of funds to the WHO, the recall of US personnel, and finding alternative partners.
It also tasks the relevant policy office with re-evaluating the US Global Health Security Strategy.
The National Security Council is to establish new directorates to address public health and biosecurity.
Sec. 3. Notification. The Secretary of State shall immediately inform the Secretary-General of the United Nations, any other applicable depositary, and the leadership of the WHO of the withdrawal.
The Secretary of State is directed to formally notify relevant international bodies of the US withdrawal from the WHO.
Sec. 4. Global System 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.
The US will cease participation in negotiations regarding the WHO Pandemic Agreement and amendments to International Health Regulations until the withdrawal is complete.
Sec. 5. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
This section clarifies that the order does not affect existing legal authorities of government agencies.
Implementation depends upon legal compliance and budget availability.
The order creates no legal rights or benefits for any party.