Should the United States Leave the World Health Organization (WHO)?

2020 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION SITE

Last updated on: 7/23/2020 11:41:17 AM PST

The WHO (World Health Organization) is an United Nations agency consisting of a collective of 194 member states around the world that coordinates health responses and works to combat diseases such as HIV, influenza, cancer, and heart disease. The WHO is funded by the member states (51%), the UN, other non-governmental organizations (NGOs), development banks, and philanthropic foundations. In 2019, the United States was the largest donor at $419 million in 2019 (about 16% of total WHO funding), with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation following in second (9.8%). In 2020, the WHO requested $675 trillion in emergency funding to fight COVID-19 (coronavirus).

Sources:
Peter Beech, "World Health Organization: What Does It Do and How Does It Work?," weforum.org, Apr. 17, 2020
WHO, "About WHO," who.int (accessed July 20, 2020)

Pro

Jorgensen

Trump

Con

Biden

Not Clear or Not Found

Hawkins

Pro (Yes)

Pro

Jorgensen
Libertarian

"Yes, and it is already scheduled to leave the WHO in 2021. The WHO advocates socialized medicine as part of its charter, and has proven itself both politicized and incompetent on numerous occasions."

Source: Communication from the Jorgensen campaign to ProCon.org on Sep. 8, 2020.

Pro

Trump
Republican

"On April 14, 2020, I suspended United States contribution to the World Health Organization pending an investigation by my Administration of the organization's failed response to the COVID-19 outbreak. This review has confirmed many of the serious concerns I raised last month and identified others that the World Health Organization should have addressed, especially the World Health Organization's alarming lack of independence from the People's Republic of China... I cannot allow American taxpayer dollars to continue to finance an organization that, in its present state, is so clearly not serving American interests."

Source: Donald Trump, Letter to Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Twitter.com, May 18, 2020

[Editor's Note: On July 6, 2020, the Trump Administration sent a letter formally withdrawing from the World Health Organization, effective July 6, 2021. To leave the organization, a member country must give one-year notice and pay outstanding dues. The US owes $198 million as of June 30, 2020.

Source: Pien Huang, "Trump Sets Date to End WHO Membership over Its Handling of Virus," npr.org, July 7, 2020]

Con (No)

Con

Biden
Democrat

"Americans are safer when America is engaged in strengthening global health. On my first day as President, I will rejoin the @WHO and restore our leadership on the world stage."

Source: Joe Biden, Twitter.com, July 7, 2020

None Found

Hawkins
Green

No position found as of July 24, 2020.

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