Bill Overview
Title: WHO Withdrawal Act
Description: 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.
Sponsors: Rep. Biggs, Andy [R-AZ-5]
Target Audience
Population: People relying on WHO initiatives for health guidance and support
Estimated Size: 331000000
- The World Health Organization (WHO) has 194 member countries, essentially covering the entire global population.
- The WHO plays a critical role in global health, providing guidance on health matters, coordinating responses to health emergencies, and supporting health systems around the world.
- Any changes in the U.S. involvement with WHO may impact global health efforts, funding, and support mechanisms.
- U.S. funding and participation in the WHO contribute to initiatives such as disease outbreak responses (e.g., COVID-19) and vaccination programs, which have worldwide impact.
Reasoning
- The WHO Withdrawal Act would primarily affect individuals who directly or indirectly benefit from global health initiatives supported by WHO funding. These include health professionals, patients relying on WHO-supported programs, policy makers, and general populations vulnerable to global health threats.
- The population distribution reflects a mix of people directly and indirectly related to WHO activities in the U.S. This includes healthcare professionals who use WHO guidelines, individuals dependent on international health aid, and general citizens benefiting from coordinated healthcare efforts (e.g., during pandemics).
- Due to the lack of direct budget expenditure and program size constraints, this policy largely results in indirect impacts related to changes in WHO funding and participation rather than immediate financial effects within the U.S. economy.
- Assessment of the Cantril wellbeing scale reflects considerations related to both the psychological reassurance provided through WHO-backed health securities and the potential challenges or fears in absence of such frameworks.
Simulated Interviews
Public Health Official (New York, NY)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Concerned about losing access to critical global health data.
- Worried about lack of coordination during global health emergencies.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 7 |
Software Developer (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 32 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Indifferent but slightly worried about changes in global health policies affecting travel and safety.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 8 |
Healthcare Researcher (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 54 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Sees potential funding gaps in international collaborative research.
- Concerned about isolating U.S. from global health innovation.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 9 |
Journalist (Austin, TX)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Depends on WHO for reliable, vetted information on health emergencies.
- Fears increase in misinformation without WHO oversight.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 7 |
Retired Nurse (Cleveland, OH)
Age: 62 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Worried about the U.S. influence decreasing in global health.
- Believes withdrawal limits quick global responses to outbreaks.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Entrepreneur (Miami, FL)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Worried about health instructions for travelers without WHO guidance.
- Uncertainty about international health policy uniformity.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Pharmaceutical Executive (Seattle, WA)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Withdrawal could affect international approval processes for new medications.
- Sees risk in changes to regulatory alignments.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 8 |
Community Health Worker (Chicago, IL)
Age: 35 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Concerned about diminishing resources for community health programs.
- Sees a gap forming in health education without WHO resources.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 7 |
Primary Care Physician (Denver, CO)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Feels patient anxiety may increase due to uncertain health policies.
- Reassurances provided by WHO-backed data might be diminished.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Graduate Student in International Relations (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 27 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Sees barriers in entering a career focused on global health post-withdrawal.
- Worried about the prestige of U.S. in global dialogues.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 9 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $0 (Low: $-500000000, High: $1000000000)
Year 2: $0 (Low: $-500000000, High: $1000000000)
Year 3: $0 (Low: $-500000000, High: $1000000000)
Year 5: $0 (Low: $-500000000, High: $1000000000)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $-500000000, High: $1000000000)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $-500000000, High: $1000000000)
Key Considerations
- Impact on global health diplomacy and the U.S.'s role in international health standards.
- Replacement of WHO functions may require independent U.S. public health initiatives or partnerships.
- The potential for greater spending in national health emergency responses due to missing WHO support.