US Withdraws from WHO Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

This archive report was first published on 8 July 2020.

US Withdraws from WHO Amid COVID-19 Pandemic ¶

On July 6, 2021, the United States officially notified the United Nations of its withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO), a move that has sparked widespread criticism from lawmakers, medical associations, and allies abroad.

According to multiple officials, the withdrawal was triggered by a letter addressed to the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, which was submitted to him on July 6, 2021. The letter, which is reportedly around three sentences long, triggers a one-year withdrawal timeline.

Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has vowed to reverse the decision on his first day in office if elected. In a tweet, Biden stated, 'Americans are safer when America is engaged in strengthening global health. On my first day as President, I will rejoin the @WHO and restore our leadership on the world stage.'

Sen. Robert Menendez, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has also criticized the decision, stating, 'Congress received notification that POTUS officially withdrew the U.S. from the ⁦‪@WHO⁩in the midst of a pandemic. To call Trump’s response to COVID chaotic & incoherent doesn’t do it justice. This won’t protect American lives or interests—it leaves Americans sick & America alone.'

Elizabeth Cousens, the president and CEO of the UN Foundation, has also weighed in on the decision, calling it 'short-sighted, unnecessary, and unequivocally dangerous.' She stated that the US' ability to lead and shape an agenda for reform is drastically diminished when they step out of the field of play.

The WHO has been instrumental in coordinating efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, including distributing personal protective equipment, diagnostic tests, and tracking the virus' spread across borders. The organization has also been working to develop a vaccine and coordinate research among over 100 countries.

Despite the criticism, the Trump administration has maintained that the decision to withdraw from the WHO was necessary due to the organization's alleged failure to make reforms and its ties to China. However, many have argued that the decision is a reckless and short-sighted move that will have far-reaching consequences for global health and security.