Overview

• The U.S. withdrawal from the WHO, ordered by President Trump, threatens funding for critical global health programs such as polio eradication and pandemic preparedness.
• Experts warn that the move could harm U.S. national security by limiting access to vital health data and international disease response efforts.
• The U.S. is the WHO's largest donor, contributing 14.5% of its budget, and its absence could create a significant funding gap with unclear prospects for replacement contributions.
• Legal and geopolitical challenges may delay or complicate the withdrawal process, as Congress originally authorized U.S. membership in the WHO in 1948.
• The decision could disrupt ongoing negotiations for a global pandemic agreement, diminishing U.S. influence and potentially altering the agreement's scope and effectiveness.