On January 20, 2025, President Trump signed an Executive Order to withdraw the US from the World Health Organization (WHO). This is not the first time the US has exited a United Nations (UN) entity; it has a history of leaving and rejoining various organizations without significant results. The future of this withdrawal remains uncertain.
The US has played a major role in the UN system, providing around 22% of its regular budget and being the largest contributor to the WHO's funding. The US has previously expressed dissatisfaction with the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) and UNESCO, which show its complicated relationship with international organizations.
The HRC was established in 2006, replacing the Human Rights Commission and is made up of 47 member states elected by the UN General Assembly (UNGA). The US has had a troubled history with the HRC, initially voting against its creation but joining in 2009 under President Obama. The US has raised concerns regarding perceived biases of the HRC, especially in relation to Israel.
In March 2018, the HRC condemned Israel's actions against Palestinians. In June, the Trump administration decided to leave the HRC, citing membership of authoritarian governments and biases against Israel. The Biden administration reversed this decision in 2021, rejoining the HRC and seeking election for the 2022-2024 term.
UNESCO also has a rocky relationship with the US. The US left UNESCO in 1984 over political differences, returning in 2003. UNESCO admitted Palestine as a full member in 2011, prompting the US to freeze its contributions. The Trump administration withdrew in 2019 due to accumulated unpaid dues. Under the Biden administration, the US rejoined UNESCO in 2023, agreeing to pay its outstanding dues.
The WHO was also among the organizations the US was part of from its inception in 1948. The US Congress stipulated that the US could withdraw from the WHO with a one-year notice. In May 2020, President Trump announced the US's intention to leave the WHO, citing its failures during the Covid-19 pandemic. However, the Biden administration halted this withdrawal six months later, increasing engagement with WHO and proposing amendments to health regulations.
On January 20, 2025, Trump signed an order marking the US's formal withdrawal from the WHO, criticizing the organization for mishandling the pandemic, demanding unfair payments, and showing excessive political influence. The Executive Order suggests the withdrawal process from 2020 is still valid. It is uncertain if this will lead to a completed withdrawal or spark new discussions in Congress.
Historically, decisions to exit organizations like the HRC and UNESCO have been quickly reversed by subsequent administrations. If the Trump administration withdraws from the WHO, the decision could easily be undone in the future. There’s concern that these actions lead to wasted time, funds, and positioning.
The text emphasizes that instead of leaving the WHO, the Trump administration might better utilize its influence to advocate for comprehensive reforms. The administration has valid reasons to push for changes in the WHO's response to pandemics and other global health concerns, potentially leading to a more sustainable and effective organization in the future.
https://brownstone.org/articles/the-history-of-failed-exits/
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