President-elect Biden will order the United States to return to the World Health Organization, interrupting the withdrawal process initiated by the Trump administration.
Why it matters: Biden is expected to undo several policies of the Trump administration early in his term. President Trump notified the United Nations in July 2020 of his government’s intention to withdraw from the organization – despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
- Dr. Anthony Fauci will comment on the WHO Executive Board as “head of delegation” later this week.
- WHO frequently leads international health issues, such as vaccine development and polio eradication. Many countries that lack critical health infrastructure depend on WHO for resources.
- Trump suspended funding for WHO in April. He argued that the organization was guilty of “mismanagement and cover-up” of COVID-19 on behalf of China and said the United States “has a duty to demand full responsibility”.
- The United States was the largest contributor to WHO – providing more than 14% of its budget.
Biden tweeted in July: “Americans are safer when the United States is committed to strengthening global health. On my first day as president, I will return to participate in [WHO] and restore our leadership on the world stage. “