Withdrawing the United States From the World Health Organization
Executive Order
•
January 29, 2025
•
Document 2025-01957
Summary
On January 20, 2025, President [Name not provided in the content] issued an executive order to withdraw the United States from the World Health Organization (WHO), citing the organization's mishandling of global health crises and financial disparities in member contributions. This decision involves halting U.S. funding and support to the WHO and reassigning personnel, while also revoking previous executive orders related to global health collaboration. The move could have significant implications for international health cooperation and may face legal and political challenges, particularly concerning global health security and diplomatic relations.
Full Text
[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 18 (Wednesday, January 29, 2025)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 8361-8362]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-01957]
Presidential Documents
Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 18 / Wednesday, January 29, 2025 /
Presidential Documents
[[Page 8361]]
Executive Order 14155 of January 20, 2025
Withdrawing the United States From the World
Health Organization
By the authority vested in me as President by the
Constitution and the laws of the United States of
America, it is hereby ordered:
Section 1. Purpose. The United States noticed its
withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO) in
2020 due to the organization's mishandling of the
COVID-19 pandemic that arose out of Wuhan, China, and
other global health crises, its failure to adopt
urgently needed reforms, and its inability to
demonstrate independence from the inappropriate
political influence of WHO member states. In addition,
the WHO continues to demand unfairly onerous payments
from the United States, far out of proportion with
other countries' assessed payments. China, with a
population of 1.4 billion, has 300 percent of the
population of the United States, yet contributes nearly
90 percent less to the WHO.
Sec. 2. Actions. (a) The United States intends to
withdraw from the WHO. The Presidential Letter to the
Secretary-General of the United Nations signed on
January 20, 2021, that retracted the United States'
July 6, 2020, notification of withdrawal is revoked.
(b) Executive Order 13987 of January 25, 2021
(Organizing and Mobilizing the United States Government
to Provide a Unified and Effective Response to Combat
COVID-19 and to Provide United States Leadership on
Global Health and Security), is revoked.
(c) The Assistant to the President for National
Security Affairs shall establish directorates and
coordinating mechanisms within the National Security
Council apparatus as he deems necessary and appropriate
to safeguard public health and fortify biosecurity.
(d) The Secretary of State and the Director of the
Office of Management and Budget shall take appropriate
measures, with all practicable speed, to:
(i) pause the future transfer of any United States Government funds,
support, or resources to the WHO;
(ii) recall and reassign United States Government personnel or contractors
working in any capacity with the WHO; and
(iii) identify credible and transparent United States and international
partners to assume necessary activities previously undertaken by the WHO.
(e) The Director of the White House Office of
Pandemic Preparedness and Response Policy shall review,
rescind, and replace the 2024 U.S. Global Health
Security Strategy as soon as practicable.
Sec. 3. Notification. The Secretary of State shall
immediately inform the Secretary-General of the United
Nations, any other applicable depositary, and the
leadership of the WHO of the withdrawal.
Sec. 4. Global System Negotiations. While withdrawal is
in progress, the Secretary of State will cease
negotiations on the WHO Pandemic Agreement and the
amendments to the International Health Regulations, and
actions taken to effectuate such agreement and
amendments will have no binding force on the United
States.
Sec. 5. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order
shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
[[Page 8362]]
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or
the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget
relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with
applicable law and subject to the availability of
appropriations.
(c) This order is not intended to, and does not,
create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural,
enforceable at law or in equity by any party against
the United States, its departments, agencies, or
entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any
other person.
(Presidential Sig.)
THE WHITE HOUSE,
January 20, 2025.
[FR Doc. 2025-01957
Filed 1-28-25; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3395-F4-P