President Trump’s Executive Order Openly Defied by Administration

Health agencies within President Trump’s administration are openly defying his executive order to withdraw from the World Health Organization (WHO), revealing a deepening power struggle that threatens to undermine presidential authority.

Key Takeaways

President Trump issued an executive order to withdraw from and halt funding to the World Health Organization, citing unfair financial contributions and concerns about China’s influence.
The CDC and FDA are defying this order by continuing to participate in WHO programs, including a recent flu vaccine conference in London.
Neither agency publicly announced their participation in the WHO meeting, which likely required an exemption from the administration’s ban.
Health experts warn that US withdrawal from WHO programs could impact global health initiatives and potentially affect domestic vaccine effectiveness.
The defiance highlights ongoing tensions between career health officials and the Trump administration’s policy directives.

Agency Defiance Challenges Executive Authority

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are continuing engagement with the World Health Organization despite President Trump’s explicit executive order prohibiting such participation. A CDC spokesperson confirmed the agency “will be actively participating virtually” in a WHO conference focused on flu vaccines, while FDA officials have also maintained their involvement with the organization. This internal resistance mirrors the challenges Trump faced during his first term, where career bureaucrats sometimes worked against White House directives.

The weeklong meeting began in London, with leadership from both agencies in attendance despite neither publicly announcing their plans. Such participation would likely require an exemption from the administration’s ban, raising questions about who authorized this apparent contradiction of presidential orders. The silence from the agencies about their continued WHO engagement has only fueled concerns about transparency within the federal health apparatus.

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

Trump’s Rationale for WHO Withdrawal

President Trump has articulated several specific criticisms of the WHO that prompted his withdrawal decision. The executive order formally notified the organization of US withdrawal “due to the organization’s mishandling of the… pandemic that arose out of Wuhan, China, and other global health crises, its failure to adopt urgently needed reforms, and its inability to demonstrate independence from the inappropriate political influence of WHO member states.”

“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

Trump particularly highlighted the financial disparity between American and Chinese contributions to the organization, noting that “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.” The order directed all US agencies to cease funding and engagement with WHO programs, and to reassign personnel currently working with the organization.

Health Implications of WHO Disengagement

The WHO meetings in question analyze global influenza data and recommend vaccine compositions for upcoming flu seasons. Health experts warn that American absence from these proceedings could potentially lead to less effective domestic flu vaccines. The United States has historically played a major role in manufacturing and stockpiling vaccines for potential influenza pandemics, making coordination with global health authorities particularly relevant to national interests.

Trump’s executive orders have also frozen spending on PEPFAR, a program that supports global HIV treatment. Health advocates have expressed alarm about potential repercussions, with International AIDS Society President Beatriz Grinsztejn warning, “If that happens, people are going to die and HIV will resurge.” The CDC has historically maintained significant involvement in WHO activities through both funding and technical expertise, making a complete withdrawal particularly disruptive to ongoing health initiatives.

Uncertain Resolution Ahead

As of this report, President Trump has not publicly commented on this internal defiance from health agencies. Legal experts note that a complete withdrawal from the WHO requires both Congressional approval and a one-year notice period, creating uncertainty about the immediate implementation of the executive order. Meanwhile, social media discussions have amplified calls for accountability, with some supporters urging personnel changes at agencies perceived as undermining presidential authority.

The standoff highlights the complex relationship between political appointees, career civil servants, and presidential directives. With Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. overseeing both the CDC and FDA, observers are watching closely to see how this internal power struggle will be resolved and what consequences may follow for officials who have chosen to maintain WHO relationships despite explicit orders to the contrary.