President Trump Removes US From World Health Organization
Jul 10, 2020
President Trump has submitted formal notice withdrawing the United States from the World Health Organization, making good on his previous threat to permanently cut ties with the global health agency for its "repeated missteps" throughout the pandemic.
Congress received formal notification of the decision on Tuesday, more than a month after President Trump announced his intention to end the U.S. relationship with the WHO and blasted the institution as a tool of China. The White House said the withdrawal would take effect on July 6th, 2021, however, The Associated Press reports the U.S. must meet its financial obligations to the WHO before the withdrawal can be finalized. America is the agency's largest donor and currently owes it $200 million in current and past dues.
The notice to the United Nations was the first step in a yearlong process that will rely on several factors outside of President Trump’s control, including cooperation from Congress and the president’s own reelection in November. Joe Biden has said he would have the U.S. rejoin the WHO on day one of his presidency, were he to defeat Trump this November.
