Trump’s move to pull WHO funds could make the pandemic worse
Health challenges, like the current COVID-19 pandemic and previous ones like the Ebola epidemic, require a constant flow of information among nations. (CDC/Bryan Christensen/)President Donald Trump announced last Tuesday that the United States is suspending its contribution to the yearly budget of the World Health Organization. He accused the organization of being “China-centric” and downplaying the virus’s severity, among a number of other claims. But the real story is more complex and many have criticized Trump for defunding the organization. A number of reputable sources have also noted that President Trump’s remarks were not accurate. The US contribution represents about 10 percent of the WHO’s funding, says Nicholas Grossman, a professor in the University of Illinois Department of Political Science. According to NBC News, last year the US spent just under $60 million helping to support the WHO, which is entirely funded by UN member nations. Pulling the funding will...