U.S. Agencies Openly Defy Trump’s Directive

President Trump’s directive to withdraw from the World Health Organization is facing internal resistance from the CDC and FDA, highlighting a growing rift within his administration over global health strategy.

Key Insights

The CDC and FDA are reportedly defying Trump’s executive order by continuing engagement with the WHO, including participation in a critical flu vaccine conference.
Trump withdrew U.S. support from the WHO, citing concerns about financial inequity and political influence from member states, particularly China’s disproportionately low contributions.
The agencies’ unauthorized participation raises questions about federal bureaucracy autonomy and challenges to presidential authority.
Health experts warn that disengagement from WHO could potentially impact the effectiveness of U.S. flu vaccines and global health initiatives.

Executive Order Met With Internal Resistance

President Donald Trump is encountering familiar challenges in his second administration as federal health agencies appear to be operating contrary to his directives. Despite an executive order to withdraw from the World Health Organization and halt all U.S. funding and personnel involvement, both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have continued their engagement with the international body. The situation bears similarities to the internal resistance Trump faced during his first term.

According to reports, CDC officials confirmed their “active virtual participation” in a recent WHO conference focused on developing flu vaccines. This attendance was not publicly announced, suggesting the agencies may have sought to avoid drawing attention to actions that directly contradict the President’s orders. The meeting began in London, with representatives from both the CDC and FDA in attendance.

NEW: CDC defies Trump's EO withdrawing from the World Health Organization.

The agency will participate in a WHO conference. pic.twitter.com/pC6bWWDKwU

— Resist the Mainstream (@ResisttheMS) February 26, 2025

America First: Trump’s Reasoning for WHO Withdrawal

Trump’s executive order to disengage from the WHO was based on multiple concerns about the organization’s operations and financial structure. Central to his decision was the issue of disproportionate financial burden placed on American taxpayers compared to other nations, particularly China. The President has been vocal about this inequity, pointing to the vast population differences versus contribution levels.

“China, with a population of 1.4 billion, has 300 percent of the population of the United States, yet contributes nearly 90 percent less to the WHO.” – Donald Trump – https://www.westernjournal.com/cdc-admits-openly-defying-rfk-jr-trump-report/

The President also expressed concerns about the organization’s handling of global health crises and what he described as “inappropriate political influence” from certain member states. His executive order specifically directed all U.S. personnel working with the organization to be reassigned and halted further financial contributions, representing a significant policy shift in America’s approach to international health governance.

Health Implications of the WHO Disconnect

The ongoing power struggle has potential implications for public health preparedness. WHO meetings are critical forums where global flu data is analyzed and recommendations for vaccine compositions are made. Health experts warn that America’s absence from these proceedings could potentially lead to less effective flu vaccines for U.S. citizens. The United States manufactures and stockpiles vaccines for potential flu pandemics, making coordination with global monitoring systems important.

The CDC has historically maintained significant involvement and provided substantial funding for WHO activities. Trump’s executive orders have also affected other global health initiatives, including freezing spending on PEPFAR, which supports HIV treatment worldwide. This has raised concerns among some health advocates about potential disruptions to established international health collaborations.

Questions of Authority and Accountability

The apparent defiance by these federal health agencies has sparked discussions about the chain of command within the executive branch and the broader issue of bureaucratic resistance to presidential directives. As of the latest reports, Trump had not publicly addressed the CDC and FDA’s unauthorized participation in WHO activities. The situation raises questions about how the administration will respond to what appears to be direct contradiction of executive orders.

“In addition, the WHO continues to demand unfairly onerous payments from the United States, far out of proportion with other countries’ assessed payments.” – Donald Trump

Social media discussions have highlighted the tensions, with some voices calling for accountability measures, including potential personnel changes. The controversy underscores the ongoing challenges in implementing significant policy shifts within the federal government and the complex relationship between presidential authority and established institutional practices in agencies with technical expertise.