# Plain Language Summary: WHO Withdrawal Act

This bill would direct the President to pull the United States out of the World Health Organization (WHO) and stop all American funding and participation in it. The WHO is an international agency that coordinates global health efforts, tracks disease outbreaks, and helps countries respond to health emergencies. If this bill became law, the U.S. would no longer be a member, and no federal money could be spent on participating in the WHO or any organization that replaces it.

The bill also repeals a 1948 law that originally authorized the U.S. to join the WHO and provided funding for it. Essentially, it erases the legal foundation for American membership and participation that has existed for over 70 years. This would be a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy, as the country has been a major contributor to and participant in the WHO since its creation after World War II.

The practical impact would mean the U.S. would no longer have a seat at the table during WHO decisions about international health responses, disease surveillance, or pandemic preparedness. Americans would lose direct influence over how the organization operates, though the U.S. could still work with other countries on health issues outside the WHO framework. It would also likely reduce American funding that currently supports global disease monitoring and emergency response efforts that many argue help protect public health at home by catching outbreaks early.

WHO Withdrawal Act

Biggs, Andy

WHO Withdrawal Act This bill requires the President to immediately withdraw the United States from the World Health Organization (WHO) and prohibits using any federal funds to provide for U.S. participation in the WHO. The bill also repeals the 1948 act authorizing the United States to join the WHO.