The U.S. would build on bilateral agreements with countries and expand the presence of its health agencies to dozens of additional nations, the officials said. Citing figures in the proposal, officials said the U.S. contributions represented about 15 to 18 percent of the WHO’s total annual funding of about $3.7 billion. Experts and medical societies have said withdrawing from the preeminent global health alliance is scientifically reckless because global cooperation is key to controlling and preventing infectious diseases. The new initiative envisions expanding that footprint to more than 130 countries, according to the officials briefed on the proposal. But it comes as global health expertise in federal government under the Trump administration has been depleted by repeated layoffs, deferred resignations and retirements.

Source: Washington Post February 19, 2026 17:34 UTC