The World Health Organization (WHO) is the global authority on public health, playing a pivotal role in coordinating international responses to health crises, setting health standards, and conducting vital research. However, the organization has faced significant challenges in recent years, particularly with the United States’ decision to withdraw both financially and politically from the WHO. The ramifications of this decision are profound, with both immediate and long-term consequences for global health efforts, the WHO’s operational capacity, and the future of international collaboration in public health.
U.S. Withdrawal: The Financial and Political Impact
In July 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, former President Donald Trump made the controversial decision to withdraw the United States from the WHO, citing mismanagement of the pandemic and undue influence from China. The U.S. had been the largest contributor to the organization’s funding, providing approximately 15-20% of its annual budget. This withdrawal not only created a financial vacuum but also signaled a retreat from multilateralism, further straining the WHO’s ability to function effectively in a time of global health crisis.
Politically, the U.S. pullout marked a broader shift away from global cooperation. The U.S. had long been a key player in shaping the WHO’s policies, influencing its strategic direction, and supporting global health initiatives. The decision to withdraw undermined the collective efforts of the international community to address pressing health challenges, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccination drives, and non-communicable diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular conditions. The U.S. was seen as a major power broker within the WHO, and its absence left a gap that the organization struggled to fill.
Financial Ramifications: A Funding Crisis
The WHO’s budget is primarily funded through two sources: assessed contributions from member states and voluntary contributions. The U.S.’s withdrawal removed a significant portion of the organization’s funding, creating immediate financial strain. As one of the major contributors, the U.S. withdrawal threatened to diminish the resources available for critical health programs, especially those targeting low-income and middle-income countries.
The financial vacuum created by the U.S. withdrawal also made it more difficult for the WHO to sustain its operational capabilities. Without sufficient funds, the WHO found itself in a position where it had to reduce its scope of work, scaling back essential programs like emergency response teams and disease surveillance. The organization also struggled to fulfill its mission of supporting universal health coverage, a key aspect of its agenda for achieving better health outcomes globally.
While other countries stepped in to bridge the funding gap—most notably, the European Union, Japan, and China—the WHO’s financial situation remained precarious. The organization has since launched fundraising efforts to compensate for the loss, but the U.S. pullout marked the beginning of a long-term struggle to maintain the same level of global health impact it had in the past.
Political Ramifications: Erosion of Global Cooperation
The U.S. withdrawal from the WHO also had far-reaching political consequences. The decision undermined the role of the organization as a neutral, apolitical body that strives to act in the best interest of global public health. The U.S. had long been an influential member, and its decision to leave sent a message to other countries that global health governance could be secondary to national interests.
In the absence of U.S. leadership, other nations have increasingly sought to fill the void. China, for example, has positioned itself as a rising power in global health, offering funding and expertise to the WHO, particularly in Africa. While China’s influence has grown, there is concern among critics that the WHO’s independence and impartiality could be compromised by a shift in the balance of power.
The lack of political support from the U.S. also complicated the WHO’s ability to exert influence over international health norms and policies. The organization’s authority was weakened, and efforts to implement global health strategies—such as universal vaccination, combating antimicrobial resistance, and ensuring equitable access to medical resources—became more fragmented.
A Reversal of Policy: The Biden Administration’s Re-engagement
In January 2021, President Joe Biden took office and immediately reversed the Trump administration’s decision to withdraw from the WHO. The re-engagement marked a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy and underscored the importance of multilateralism in addressing global challenges. The U.S. pledged to restore its financial contributions, including the payments that had been suspended under Trump’s administration, and to work with the international community to strengthen the WHO’s role in global health.
The Biden administration’s return to the WHO was widely welcomed by health experts and global leaders, signaling a renewed commitment to collective action in addressing pandemics, health inequities, and other global health challenges. The move also aimed to stabilize the organization’s funding and restore trust in the U.S. as a key player in global health diplomacy.
The Future of WHO in a Changing World
The U.S. pullout from the WHO highlighted the fragility of global health governance in a world of shifting political alliances. While the re-engagement under the Biden administration has helped stabilize the organization, challenges remain. The WHO’s effectiveness in the future will depend on the continued support of member states, ensuring that it can maintain financial stability and navigate the complex political dynamics of the 21st century.
As global health challenges become increasingly complex and interconnected, the importance of the WHO as a central coordinating body has never been greater. The U.S. pullout serves as a reminder that multilateralism, cooperation, and sustained commitment are essential for addressing the pressing health issues of our time. Whether the WHO can recover from the strains of recent years will depend largely on the ability of the international community to prioritize global health above national interests and ensure that organizations like the WHO remain robust and effective in their mission to protect and promote global health.
