Trump Ends US Aid to World Health Organization

President Donald Trump has said he is cutting off US funding to the World Health Organization (WHO), accusing the organization of failing to do enough to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

Trump claimed the outbreak could have been contained at its source and that lives could have been saved had the UN health agency done a better job investigating early reports out of China.

"The WHO failed in its basic duty and must be held accountable," Trump said at a press conference. He said the US would be reviewing the WHO's actions to stop the virus before making any decision on providing aid in the future.

The United States paid nearly $900 million towards the WHO's budget for 2018-19, according to information on the agency's website. That represents one-fifth of its total $4.4 billion budget for those years.

There was no immediate comment from the Geneva-based organization on Trump's announcement. But UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres responded saying that now is not the time to end support for the WHO, calling the organization "absolutely critical" to the global effort to combat COVID-19.

When asked if cutting the WHO's funding was appropriate in the middle of a viral pandemic, Trump said the review would last 60 to 90 days. "This is an evaluation period, but in the meantime, we're putting a hold on all funds going to [the WHO]," Trump said.

The American Medical Association immediately called on Trump to reconsider his decision.

"During the worst public health crisis in a century, halting funding to the World Health Organization is a dangerous step in the wrong direction that will not make defeating COVID-19 easier," AMA President Patrice A. Harris said in a statement.

Harris said international cooperation is needed to fight the virus, along with science and data.

According to John Hopkins University, COVID-19 has caused more than 142,000 deaths worldwide, including more than 31,000 in the US.

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Trump Ends US Aid to World Health Organization