The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has instructed its employees to immediately cease all collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) following President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw the United States from the global health body.
CDC Halts Engagement with WHO
According to a report by the Associated Press, John Nkengasong, a senior CDC official, issued a memo on Sunday night directing staff to halt all interactions with WHO and “await further guidance.”
The memo, obtained by the Associated Press, specifies that the directive applies to all CDC employees engaged with WHO through technical working groups, advisory boards, cooperative agreements, and virtual or in-person meetings. Additionally, CDC staff have been prohibited from visiting WHO offices.
The move is a direct consequence of President Trump’s executive order to withdraw the U.S. from WHO, citing concerns over political influence and alleged mismanagement of the COVID-19 pandemic.
U.S. Withdrawal from WHO
President Trump’s executive order, signed shortly after his inauguration, has drawn sharp criticism from global leaders, health experts, and international organizations.
According to the White House, the decision to withdraw stems from WHO’s handling of the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan, China, as well as its failure to implement necessary reforms and maintain independence from political interference by member states.
The text of the executive order states,
“The organisation’s mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic, its failure to adopt urgently needed reforms, and its inability to demonstrate independence from the inappropriate political influence of WHO member states is the reason for U.S. withdrawal.”
WHO Calls for Constructive Dialogue
In response to the U.S. withdrawal, the WHO has urged continued engagement, emphasizing that the partnership between the U.S. and WHO has been critical in combating disease outbreaks, strengthening global health systems, and responding to emergencies.
A WHO statement highlighted that,
“With the participation of the United States and other member states, WHO has implemented the largest set of reforms in its history to improve accountability, cost-effectiveness, and impact in countries.”
The organization expressed hope that the U.S. would reconsider its decision, stating,
“We look forward to engaging in constructive dialogue to maintain the partnership between the U.S. and WHO for the benefit of global health and well-being.”
With the CDC now formally cutting ties, the impact of the U.S. withdrawal on global disease surveillance, pandemic preparedness, and international health initiatives remains uncertain.
