President-elect Biden will order the U.S. to rejoin the World Health Organization, ending a withdrawal process that had begun the Trump administration.
Why it’s important: Biden is expected to undo dozens of policies of the Trump administration at the beginning of his term. President Trump notified the United Nations in July 2020 of his administration’s intention to withdraw from the organization, despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
- Dr Anthony Fauci will make statements to the WHO executive board as “head of delegation” later this week.
- The WHO often leads international health issues such as vaccine development and polio eradication. Many countries that do not have critical health infrastructure depend on the WHO for resources.
- Trump stopped funding to the WHO in April. He argued that the organization was guilty of “mismanaging and covering up” COVID-19 on behalf of China and claimed that the US “has a duty to insist on full responsibility.”
- The United States was the main contributor to the WHO, contributing more than 14% of its budget.
Biden tweeted in July: “Americans are safer when the United States is dedicated to strengthening global health. My first day as president, I will rejoin the United States. [WHO] and restore our leadership to the world stage. “