January 21, 2025
The O’Neill Institute issued the following statement from co-faculty directors, Professor Michele Bratcher Goodwin and Professor Lawrence O. Gostin, in response to President Trump signing an executive order beginning the process of withdrawing the United States from the World Health Organization.
The O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law expresses concern over President Trump’s decision to sign an executive order to withdraw the United States from the World Health Organization (WHO). The WHO has been a cornerstone of global health governance, facilitating international cooperation to combat pandemics, reduce health inequities, and strengthen health systems worldwide. This decision risks undermining decades of progress.
The United States is one of the largest funders of global health and contributes 22% of the WHO’s assessed dues. U.S. funding has been instrumental in supporting the WHO’s pandemic response. Without it, the organization’s ability to address global health emergencies will be significantly weakened, endangering health everywhere.
As the only WHO Collaborating Center for National and Global Health Law, the O’Neill Institute reaffirms its commitment to fostering international collaboration that strengthens global health security and ensures health equity for all.
We will continue working with partners and communities to support evidence-based strategies that improve the health and well-being of people around the world, and continue to reaffirm the role of law as a fundamental tool for solving critical health problems.