GHSCO Newsletter

GHSCO Newsletter Library

March 2025
Volume2 Number1

News

Trump’s Second Term and Its Implications for Global Health Security
With U.S. President Donald Trump’s re-election, significant shifts are expected across the global health security landscape.

One of the most consequential actions of Trump’s second term is his signing of an executive order in January 2025 to withdraw the United States from the World Health Organization (WHO). This decision has already raised serious concerns among global health experts, who warn of its potential repercussions for international cooperation in responding to health threats. The Trump administration’s continued emphasis on its "America First" agenda has further led to a freeze on foreign aid funding, citing inconsistencies between U.S.-led humanitarian initiatives and national foreign policy priorities.

As the largest single donor to global health-related foreign aid, the U.S. has played a critical role in shaping and supporting public health initiatives around the world. However, the current administration is actively reviewing the scope and appropriateness of its health programs and funding commitments, with the same nationalist rationale at the core. Developing countries that have long relied on U.S. assistance now face immediate challenges. While the U.S. Congress has intervened to lift the administration’s freeze on U.S. humanitarian aid, the future of International Development Cooperation (IDC) including Official Development Assistance (ODA) projects remains uncertain. Many are closely watching how these policies will reshape the landscape of IDC.

Note: Donor government health assistance totals are based on Official DevelopmentAssistance (ODA) amounts as reported to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and include bilateral disbursements for health as well as the health-adjusted share of core contributions to multilateral organizations. Overall assistance amounts are based on total bilateral disbursements and total core contributions to multilateral organizations.
Source: Analysis of data obtained via online query of the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) Database Creditor Reporting System (CRS) and MultiSystem; January 2025. · Download PNG

Global Response to the U.S. Withdrawal from WHO

The global response to the U.S. withdrawal has been swift and largely critical. The day after President Trump signed the executive order, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed deep concern over the U.S.’ departure and the broader implications for global health security. Dr. Tedros strongly urged the U.S. administration to reconsider its decision, emphasizing that this move is far more than a simple cut to financial contributions—it could directly disrupt the delivery of U.S.-funded programs for HIV/AIDS, polio, Mpox, and avian influenza (AI), potentially leading to program closures and staff reductions.

In the United Kingdom, the matter was raised during the UK-US Bilateral Relationship Debate, where Members of Parliament (MPs) underscored the critical importance of maintaining close U.S.-UK cooperation to protect global health security. They highlighted the invaluable contributions of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in tackling vaccine-preventable diseases such as polio, and voiced concerns over significant implications for both global and UK public health security. MPs also warned that the withdrawal of the U.S. from WHO could hinder crucial communication channels with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In response, they called for a review and potential expansion of existing health security programs to protect and improve public health.

Minister of Health in German has also publicly expressed willingness to engage with the Trump administration in an effort to dissuade the U.S. from fully severing ties with WHO. The minister also fear that the withdrawal would not only weaken global health security but also roll back decades of hard-won progress in the fight against infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS and malaria.

Meanwhile, following the U.S.’s lead, the Argentine government has announced its own intention to withdraw from WHO, citing similar concerns over national sovereignty and opposition to perceived interference by international organizations in the country’s health issues.

A health expert from Georgetown University has warned that the U.S. withdrawal from WHO risks isolating the country from critical international health networks. The expert further cautioned that such a move could weaken global solidarity at a time when strong global collaboration is more vital than ever to prevent and respond to future pandemics. The U.S. CDC, in particular, could face reduced access to scientific data gathered and shared through WHO platforms—data that has proven essential during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The current trajectory of U.S. global health policy has undeniably raised alarm bells over the future of global health collaboration. Now more than ever, the international community must reaffirm the importance of solidarity and collective action in building a stronger, more resilient global health security framework.

During the first term of the Trump administration, there was strong support for the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA). However, its related movements have been minimal, the Global Health Security Coordination Office (GHSCO) plans to continuous monitoring and communication on the overall flow and following movement. Moreover, the GHSCO remains fully committed to scaling up international collaboration and developing forward-looking strategies to strengthen global health security. The office will continue working closely with key international organizations and consultative bodies to ensure it plays an effective role in advancing global preparedness and response capacity on a broader scale.