Trump Suspends Spending on World Health Organization

U.S. President Donald Trump has suspended spending on the World Health Organization (WHO).

Trump has blamed the UN organization for "mishandling" the COVID-19 pandemic.

The United States had been contributing about fifteen percent of the agency's budget.

On April 7 President Trump had criticized WHO for "missing the call' on the coronavirus pandemic and threatened to withhold U.S. funding to the organization during a press briefing.

On the same day, Trump tweeted, "The WHO really blew it. For some reasons, largely funded by the United States, yet very China centric."

The U.S. Congress has already allocated about $122 million to WHO for 2020 and Trump had previously proposed in the White House's 2021 budget request to reduce WHO funding to $58 million.