WHO admits financial difficulties as US leaves

The World Health Organization (WHO) will cut costs and consider which health programs to prioritize after Mr Trump signed an executive order withdrawing the US from the agency.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus - Photo: REUTERS

In an internal document sent to staff on January 23, Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus admitted that WHO is facing serious financial challenges after President Donald Trump announced that the US will withdraw from the organization.

To address the difficulties, WHO plans to cut travel costs and suspend recruitment of new staff, except in areas where it is absolutely necessary, as part of its "belt-tightening" efforts, according to Reuters.

In addition, this document revealed that WHO has implemented reform policies, changing the way it receives funding for member countries from 2024. However, to maintain the organization, they still need more contributions.

In addition, Mr. Tedros said that WHO deeply regretted the US's decision to leave and "hoped that the new administration would reconsider this decision," according to AFP news agency.

“We stand ready to engage in constructive dialogue to maintain and strengthen the historic relationship between WHO and the United States,” Tedros added.

On the same day, January 23, the United Nations confirmed that the US will officially withdraw from WHO from January 22, 2026.

Earlier on January 20, Mr. Trump announced that the US would withdraw from the WHO, saying that the agency had mishandled the COVID-19 pandemic and global health crises.

The 47th President of the United States said that the WHO has been affected by "improper political influence from member states", as well as demanding that the US pay "unfair and burdensome" contributions, far exceeding the contributions of other major countries such as China.

“WHO took advantage of us, everyone took advantage of America. That will not happen again,” Mr. Trump said while signing the executive order withdrawing the US from WHO on January 20.

The United States is the WHO's largest financial contributor, providing about 18% of the agency's total budget.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/who-thua-nhan-kho-khan-tai-chinh-khi-my-roi-di-20250124195857942.htm