President Trump’s decision to withdraw the United States from the World Health Organization poses a great risk to health security on the national and international level. Congress needs to evaluate whether this decision is lawful and wise, given the current global health condition. As of May 31 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic has infected more than five million people, including almost two million Americans . Withdrawing from WHO will inflict health and political consequences upon the United States.
Members of Congress have expressed an interest in President Trump’s decision on April 14 to withhold funding to WHO and his subsequent decision to “terminate” partnership between the United States and WHO. The Trump administration has been critical of WHO’s response to the pandemic, claiming that the organization possesses an “alarming lack of independence” from China.
However, as stated by the Supreme Court, the President cannot unilaterally withdraw the United States from any treaty. In 1948, The United States joined WHO as a result of a joint Congress resolution. Therefore, the President will need a similar resolution passed by Congress to withdraw from the WHO. In evaluating President Trump’s decision, Congress needs to consider the following:
a) Health security implications, concerning the United States’ health priorities on the national level and the effects of Covid-19 pandemic on the international level.
b) Political feasibility, concerning the acceptance of various stakeholders, the general public, and international actors.
c) Legal feasibility, concerning the extent of executive authority to withhold WHO’s funding or rescind United States’ membership in WHO. Also concerning the mechanisms of United States’ funding to WHO.
Based on the preceding criteria, we state that a new approach regarding President Trump’s decision would be advisable. We propose the following policy options:
1. Staying and funding the WHO
By being a member of the WHO, Congress may consider how the United States will gain access to a global health system of vaccines and outbreak data. Several US agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health rely on WHO to support research and development in the United States . The United States has also established itself as a leader of global health progress. As the largest financial donor to WHO, the United States has a long history of funding various WHO initiatives, such as polio eradication.
However, some members of Congress may be concerned about the financial contribution gap within WHO. In the 2018-2019 budget cycle, the United States pledged $893 million to WHO, which accounted for 22% of the organization’s total budget. For comparison, China pledged approximately $76 million or 12% of the same budget (refer to Figure 1). This fact raises further concerns regarding WHO’s effectiveness in assessing the recent Covid-19 pandemic, its benefit for the United States, and its involvement with China.
2. Staying in the WHO and temporarily withhold funding
On April 14, President Trump announced that his administration would conduct further investigation into WHO and its response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Other nations, such as representatives of the European Union, had also led a resolution calling for an “impartial, independent, and comprehensive evaluation” to review WHO’s “international health response to the coronavirus”.
However, as the only country to withdraw funding from WHO, President Trump has received an adverse reaction from various stakeholders. Congress may consider that a decline in the United States’ leadership and reputation may allow other nations, such as China, to gain greater power in WHO. Shortly after the United States’ announcement to withhold WHO’s funding, China provided $2 billion in support of the organization’s Covid-19 initiatives.
Some policymakers have disputed President Trump’s unilateral authority to withhold WHO’s funding. In regards to this issue, some members of Congress have also raised concerns about violation of the Impoundment Control Act, the same law which prompted President Trump’s impeachment after halting $400 million aid to Ukraine.
3. Withdrawing from WHO
According to the 1948 Joint Congress Resolution, the United States must give a one-year notice before leaving the WHO. In the meantime, the United States must fulfill its financial obligations to the organization, which currently amounts to $62 million. Instead of withholding the fund, some members of Congress might be interested in allocating them to another agency. Previous plans by Trump’s administration have outlined the possible creation of Preparedness Initiative for Pandemics and Emergency Response (PIPER), Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, and Trust Fund for Global Health within the World Bank .
However, no international health organization has exceeded the history, power, and influence of the WHO. As an independent organization, it provides an arena for different countries to cooperate. A similar program or organization initiated by a specific country might not be able to garner the same extent of support due to political constraints. Moreover, creating a new organization might not be timely and effective considering the urgency of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Congress also needs to consider the possible change in leadership due to the upcoming Presidential Election in November. Presidential Candidate, Joe Biden, is known for his great support for the United Nations and its agencies. If Biden wins the election, he might rescind President Trump’s decision before it even takes effect.
Having assessed the previous policy options, we believe that the first option will be the most advisable. Staying and funding the WHO will provide a long-term advantage to health security. A major loss of funding will decelerate WHO in advancing its programs. Lack of financial resources to conduct proper vaccine development will increase the extent and duration of the Covid-19 pandemic, putting more American lives at great risk.
Staying and funding WHO will also strengthen United States’ diplomatic leadership and influence on the international stage. By withholding funds or withdrawing from WHO in the middle of a global pandemic, the United States risks losing trust and respect from the international community which will be crucial for future bilateral and multilateral partnerships.
To implement the first policy option, members of Congress need to introduce and pass a bill that requires the Trump administration to keep the United States as a member of WHO. We urge Congress to immediately hold a hearing to further assess this issue.
Although the WHO is not a perfect institution, it remains a leading organization in ensuring global health security around the world. Withdrawing from the organization during a global pandemic is a short-sighted and dangerous decision. Staying and funding the WHO remains the best option for the United States, during the Covid-19 pandemic and beyond.
2023 update:
In 2020, the Trump administration suspended financial support and initiated a process to withdraw the U.S. from membership in the organization, but President Biden reversed that decision upon taking office in January 2021 and restored U.S. funding to WHO. Source: Kff.org.