One of President Trump’s first executive orders removes the U.S. from the global health organization, which experts say is “cataclysmic.”

On his first day back in the White House, US President Donald Trump began the process of withdrawing the US from the World Health Organization (WHO). Trump had initiated the US pullout during his first term,

More than half of Americans believe the U.S. benefits from its membership in the WHO. As of April 2024, 25% of U.S. adults say the country benefits a great deal from its membership, while about one-third say it benefits a fair amount. Conversely, 38% say the U.S. does not benefit much or at all from WHO membership.

As part of a rash of executive orders completed on his first day back in the White House, President Donald Trump began the nation’s exit from the World Health Organization. Here, we explain how the withdrawal would work and what it would mean,