Donald Trump’s transition team is pushing for the United States to withdraw from the World Health Organization (WHO) on the first day of the new administration.
The Financial Times writes that members of Trump’s team told experts of their intention to announce their withdrawal from the global health organization during the inauguration of the newly elected president on January 20. The exit would deprive the WHO of its largest source of funding, hurting its ability to respond to health crises such as the coronavirus pandemic.
America will leave a huge vacuum in global health funding and leadership. I don’t see anyone who can fill that gap,” said Lawrence Gostin, a professor of global health at Georgetown Law School, adding that a day one exit plan would be “catastrophic” for global health. .
Talk of a U.S. withdrawal from the WHO intensified after Trump nominated several of his allies, such as vaccine skeptic Robert Kennedy, to top health positions in the next administration. However, Gostin said he is not confident that Trump will give the same priority to immediate withdrawal from the WHO as some members of his team.
In 2020, Trump initiated the process of withdrawing from the WHO due to the spread of Covid-19, accusing the company of being controlled by China. But the process was never completed, and his successor, Joe Biden, renewed ties with the agency on his first day in office in 2021.
Experts say some on Trump’s team want to move much faster this time after starting the process immediately.
Ashish Jha, Biden’s former White House Covid response coordinator and dean of Brown University’s school of public health, said the transition team wanted Trump out on day one because of the “symbolism” of reversing Biden’s own move. Inauguration Day.
He added that some members of the team wanted to stay with the organization and continue reforming it, but another group that believed in cutting ties was winning the argument.
Gostin said the WHO faces “very difficult years as it tries to respond to health emergencies and has to significantly reduce its scientific staff.”
He warned that if the US leaves the WHO, European countries are unlikely to increase funding and China may try to gain more influence.
Source: Racurs
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.