Trump cuts WHO off from Gavi vaccine alliance funding

The Trump administration has announced a substantial shift in global health funding, releasing $600 million to Gavi while cutting off World Health Organization access to resources through the vaccine alliance. In a joint statement, the US State Department and Department of Health and Human Services declared that the United States will not channel government funding to the WHO via Gavi, citing Trump's directives to negotiate organizational reforms as a precondition for any renewed support. The decision represents a continuation of the administration's contentious relationship with the UN health body, which has spanned multiple presidential terms. During Trump's first presidency in 2020, he ordered a temporary halt to US funding for the WHO, accusing the organization of promoting Chinese "disinformation" regarding the coronavirus pandemic. At that time, the United States was the WHO's largest financial contributor, providing over $400 million annually—approximately 15 percent of the organization's total budget. When Joe Biden assumed office in January 2021, he reversed these measures and restored American funding. However, on the first day of his second term on January 20, 2025, Trump announced that the United States would withdraw from the WHO entirely and suspended all contributions. According to the State Department, Gavi has agreed to work toward replacing mercury-containing vaccines with mercury-free alternatives in coordination with its board and partner nations. Republican Senator Susan Collins, who had advocated for reinstating US support for the global immunization programme, endorsed the latest decision. Analysts have characterized the administration's actions as ideologically motivated rather than strategically grounded. The WHO operates through a combination of core funding from member states and voluntary contributions from various partners. With an annual budget of approximately $3.4 billion, the organization funds programmes addressing polio, tuberculosis, HIV, malaria, measles, and other diseases, particularly in nations with limited healthcare infrastructure. The WHO also provides critical emergency response in conflict-affected regions, including Gaza, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.