Sponsors (23)
The bill trades reduced U.S. spending and fewer international obligations to the WHO (and greater domestic control over health policy) for diminished access to WHO-coordinated surveillance, guidance, and diplomatic influence, which could weaken pandemic response and raise long-term costs.
U.S. taxpayers will see reduced federal appropriations for WHO membership, freeing funds that could be saved or redirected.
Federal, state, and local governments would have fewer obligations to an international organization, giving them greater domestic control over health policy decisions.
Federal agencies could redirect funds and policy priorities toward domestic public-health programs or bilateral initiatives instead of WHO activities.
Hospitals, state and local public-health agencies, and patients could lose WHO-coordinated disease surveillance, technical guidance, and international assistance, weakening U.S. ability to detect and respond quickly to pandemics and other cross-border health threats.
The U.S. would lose influence over international health standards and policymaking, reducing its diplomatic leverage to shape global responses that affect American health and interests.
Cutting off statutory participation and access to WHO technical guidance and surveillance networks could weaken national security-relevant early-warning systems and interagency coordination for biological threats.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Requires withdrawal from the WHO constitution, bars federal funds for U.S. participation in WHO or successors, and repeals the 1948 statute authorizing membership.
Requires the President to withdraw the United States from the World Health Organization constitution and forbids federal funds from being used for U.S. participation in the WHO or any successor organization. Also repeals the 1948 U.S. law that authorized membership and appropriations for WHO participation. The rule takes effect on the date of enactment.
Introduced January 3, 2025 by Andrew S. Biggs · Last progress January 3, 2025