WHO Faces Budget Challenges as U.S. Withdraws Under Trump’s Executive Order
Director-General Tedros Calls for Resource Mobilization and Cost-Cutting Measures Amid Funding Uncertainty
Watan-The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, announced on Tuesday that the organization will have to “tighten its belt” after the United States, its largest budget contributor, decided to withdraw from it.
At the conclusion of an eight-day meeting of the organization’s Executive Board in Geneva, Tedros stated: “We regret the United States’ announcement of its intention to withdraw, and we strongly hope that it will reconsider its decision. We would welcome the opportunity to engage in a constructive dialogue with Washington.”
He added: “We are working towards two strategic goals: mobilizing resources and tightening the belt.”
Meanwhile, Jerome Walcott, Minister of Health of Barbados and Chairman of the Executive Board of this international organization, said, “We have had to face new realities with the announcement of the United States’ withdrawal from the World Health Organization.”
He added that “despite the many challenges we have faced, we came together and reached agreements on 40 resolutions and seven decisions aimed at strengthening our work and improving public health.”
After returning to the White House last month, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order withdrawing his country from the World Health Organization, an organization he had harshly criticized during his first term over its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
During Trump’s first term, the United States took steps to withdraw from the WHO but reversed the decision under his successor, Joe Biden.
Trump’s decision highlighted the organization’s need for more secure and reliable funding, as it has relied heavily on voluntary contributions in recent years.
The WHO’s Executive Board recommended increasing membership fees by 20% to cover at least half of its budget by 2030.
