U.S. Withdrawal from WHO Will Have Devastating Consequences for SRHR
President Trump's executive order to withdraw from the World Health Organization will jeopardize the health and well-being of millions around the world.

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to begin the process of withdrawing the United States from the World Health Organization (WHO)—a devastating setback for global public health, including sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR).
The order marks the second time Trump has ordered the U.S. to be pulled out of the WHO. His previous attempt, in 2020, was rescinded by President Joe Biden before it took effect.
The executive order, signed the first day Trump took office, states that the U.S. was withdrawing for reasons including “the organization’s mishandling of the Covid-19 pandemic” as well as “unfairly onerous payments” the U.S. made to the WHO.
What is the WHO?
As the UN agency responsible for global public health, the WHO does critical work in setting global SRHR standards, including for maternal health and abortion access. The agency works on the ground in more than 150 locations across the world, providing technical assistance to countries and coordinating responses to health emergencies.
Governments and health care institutions worldwide—including in the U.S.—rely on its reproductive health care guidance to develop policies and practices that ensure people’s health and human rights.
The loss of U.S. funding and leadership puts those vital functions in jeopardy. Importantly, the U.S.—the world’s top global health donor—contributes about 18% of funding for the WHO.
The U.S. withdrawal from the WHO sends a dangerous message that global health—including maternal health, HIV/STI treatment, and access to basic services and information related to SRHR—is not a priority.
Why does this decision matter?
“The repercussions of President Trump’s order will ripple across borders, causing devastating consequences for the health and well-being of millions of people around the world,” said Rachana Desai Martin, the Center’s Chief Government and External Relations Officer. “Now, when global health challenges demand unity, the WHO will be less able to respond and the U.S. will be left isolated.”
Marginalized communities in low-income countries, who already face significant barriers to accessing health care, will be disproportionately impacted by those consequences. Moreover, the U.S. withdrawal sends a dangerous message that global health—including maternal health, HIV/STI treatment, and access to basic services and information related to SRHR—is not a priority, further stigmatizing a wide variety of deeply essential services.
“We hope the United States will reconsider,” wrote the WHO January 21 in its response to the President’s announcement. “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.”