CDC Director Robert Redfield wouldn’t condemn President Trump’s move to halt funding to the World Health Organization, but insisted that its longstanding partnership with the CDC won’t change, during an interview on CBS Wednesday morning.
During the White House coronavirus task force briefing Tuesday night, Trump announced that the U.S. will halt funding to the WHO while a review is underway. He also accused the largely U.S.-funded organization of “severely mismanaging and covering up” the spread of COVID-19.
Asked whether Trump’s move to cut off funding to the WHO is dangerous, Redfield dodged by simply saying that the WHO has been a “longstanding partner” for the CDC and that they’re continuing to work together to “fight health crises all around the world.” That includes ongoing joint efforts to end the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
In response to the impact of cutting off funding to the WHO amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Redfield reiterated that the organization is a “long-term” and “great partner” for the CDC.
“We’re going to continue to do all we can together to try to limit this,” Redfield said, referring to COVID-19. “Those decisions that are going to be made above, related to some of the geopolitical issues, I have to leave to those that really have that expertise. But for me and for CDC, in the public health arena, we’re continuing to work side-by-side with WHO to do the best that we can to limit the spread of disease and to protect the American people.”
Redfield’s latest remarks aren’t the first to be at odds with the President’s.
On Monday, Redfield argued that the availability of swift testing for COVID-19 is crucial before reopening the economy, which Trump said during a briefing last week isn’t needed.
Do you view cutting off funding to @WHO as dangerous? — @AnthonyMasonCBS@CDCDirector: You know, I'm just going to say that W.H.O. has been a longstanding partner for CDC. We've worked together to fight health crises around the world. We continue to do that." pic.twitter.com/nf4gJs3Pob
— CBS This Morning (@CBSThisMorning) April 15, 2020
I keep reading “Trump cuts off funding to the WHO” and similar headlines. Isn’t funding and appropriations the responsibility of congress? Input from the community is appreciated.
In typical Trump fashion, I’m pretty sure the announcement was the goal, and beyond transparent blame-deflection there isn’t much to this. Whether actual dollars are cut off is one of those pesky details he famously doesn’t have the patience for. Redfield is as good as saying “pay no attention to the carnival barker out front”
Some of what the US provides to WHO is done through a country-by-country “assessment” levied by the UN – but more of it is discretionary, decided by Congress in the federal budget.
Most payments made to anyone by the US government are actually delivered by the Executive branch. There’s no one else whose regular job it is to cut the checks and transfer the money.
The President is supposed to faithfully execute the law of the land, including budget-defining (and budget-derived) statutes and regulations. Even so, the President does theoretically have the authority to “suspend” payments – and that is what Trump says he’s doing, pending a short “review.”
WHO’s two largest sources of money are: The US, which provides about 15% of the organization’s funding; and Bill Gates and his associated foundations, which provide just as much (if not slightly more).
And another member of this administration on the block for disloyalty.
WHO’s on first. WTF is on second.
Where is Mitch?