US cuts ties with WHO, blames failures during Covid pandemic
Washington (The Uttam Hindu): The United States has formally ended its membership with the World Health Organization (WHO). The Trump administration said this decision fulfills a promise made by President Donald Trump on his first day in office.
In a joint statement, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said that the withdrawal was implemented through an executive order signed by President Trump. The move aims to free the US from what it described as WHO’s “restrictions” and to respond to losses caused by failures during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The statement said that the US has separated itself from the WHO due to the organization’s shortcomings during Covid-19, which allegedly harmed the American public. The administration accused the WHO of drifting away from its original mission and acting against US interests, despite America being a founding member and the largest financial contributor for many years.
According to the administration, the WHO adopted political and bureaucratic agendas influenced by countries hostile to the United States. It also claimed that the organization failed to share timely and accurate information during the pandemic. The statement alleged that these failures may have cost American lives and were later hidden in the name of public health.
The administration further accused the WHO of behaving disrespectfully after the US announced its exit. It claimed the organization refused to hand over the US flag displayed at its headquarters and said that America’s withdrawal had not been approved. The statement noted that despite being a founding member and major supporter, the US faced continued disrespect until the final day.
The US government clarified that future contact with the WHO will be limited only to completing the withdrawal process and protecting the health and safety of American citizens. All US funding and staffing linked to the WHO have been stopped with immediate effect. The administration said the US will now lead global health efforts through direct partnerships with countries and trusted health institutions, calling the WHO a heavy and inefficient bureaucracy.
The Trump administration said the decision honors Americans who lost loved ones during the pandemic, especially elderly people in nursing homes and business owners who suffered due to Covid restrictions. The United States became a founding member of the WHO in 1948 and remained its largest donor for decades.