WHO Head Appeals to Member States to Dissuade Trump from Exit

February 4, 2025

(3 Minutes Read)

The head of the World Health Organization is urging health officials from various countries to encourage the United States to reconsider President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw from the U.N. health agency.

Countries raised concerns during a crucial budget meeting with the World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday regarding the potential impact of losing its largest donor, as revealed by internal documents obtained by The Associated Press. For the 2024-2025 period, the United States stands as WHO’s predominant contributor, providing an estimated USD 988 million, which constitutes approximately 14% of the organization’s total budget of USD 6.9 billion.

A confidential budget report shared at the meeting indicated that WHO’s health emergencies program is significantly dependent on U.S. funding. Specifically, the “readiness functions” within WHO’s European office rely over 80% on the USD 154 million contribution from the U.S. The report highlighted that U.S. financial support is crucial for many of WHO’s extensive emergency operations, accounting for up to 40% of the funding.It noted that ongoing responses in regions such as the Middle East, Ukraine, and Sudan are at risk, alongside substantial losses in polio eradication and HIV initiatives.

Additionally, the U.S. finances 95% of WHO’s tuberculosis efforts in Europe and over 60% of TB programs in Africa, the Western Pacific, and at the agency’s headquarters in Geneva, according to the document.

WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus added, that it remains crucial to invest efforts in facilitating the U.S. return, and he believes each of them could contribute to that endeavour.