Explainer: What happens to WHO without the U.S.?
President Donald Trump announced Monday he is withdrawing the US from the World Health Organization.
In 2023, the U.S. provided 18% of the WHO’s funding. However, funding could disappear almost immediately, and it is not clear whether other nations will step up to fill the gap.
WHO officials expressed regret over Trump's decision in a statement.
“We hope the United States will reconsider and we look forward to engaging in constructive dialogue to maintain the partnership between the USA and WHO, for the benefit of the health and well-being of millions of people around the globe,” WHO said.
Jeremy Konyndyk, president of Refugees International and an advisor to WHO during the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, told Science that a loss of U.S. funding would limit WHO’s capacity to respond to health crises.
