On his first day back in the White House, President Donald Trump announced the United States’ withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO), sparking criticism from public health experts and lawmakers.

Citing the WHO’s “mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic,” failure to implement reforms, and susceptibility to “political influence” from member states, Trump signed an executive order to halt US engagement and funding for the global health body.

“This is a big one,” Trump remarked, referencing his 2020 attempt to leave the WHO, which was reversed by President Joe Biden shortly after taking office. Trump has long accused the WHO of favoring China and mismanaging global health crises.

Public health experts, including Dr. Ashish Jha, warned the move could weaken the WHO and boost China’s global influence. Georgetown University’s Lawrence Gostin called the decision “cataclysmic,” stating it undermines both global health and US leadership.

Trump’s order suspends US funding immediately, though full withdrawal requires a year to complete. Critics argue the move is unlawful and could leave a strategic vacuum in global health coordination.