The White House rebutted House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s claim that President Donald Trump’s halting payments to the World Health Organization is “illegal,” according to a report.
Officials in the Office of Management and Budget said funding allocations — approved by Congress — can be broken down into two groups, assessed dues and voluntary contributions made at the agency level, the Daily Caller reported Wednesday.
OMB told the outlet that the assessed dues can be halted because there is no treaty that legally binds the US to the WHO.
The report said Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has directed State Department staffers to identify other organizations to receive those voluntary funds originally designated for the WHO.
“If you pay a contractor to build you a house and the roof falls in, you don’t keep paying them, you find a new contractor,” a senior administration official said in a statement to the Daily Caller.
“WHO clearly failed to do its job, and continues to make serious mistakes that puts our nation’s safety and security at risk, including allowing the reopening of wet markets. It shouldn’t be controversial for the U.S. to want to partner with international organizations that will actually protect international health,” the statement continued.
Trump announced on Tuesday that the US would freeze payments to WHO as it reviews whether the agency mishandled its response to the coronavirus pandemic coming out of China and failed to give countries adequate warning that would have allowed them to take precautions.
Pelosi on Wednesday said Trump’s “decision is dangerous, illegal and will be swiftly challenged.” Congressional lawmakers are still pushing for information from the WHO.
Republicans on the House Oversight Committee on Thursday sent a letter to the global health agency asking for an explanation of its relationship with China as it pertains to the pandemic.
“The World Health Organization should be ashamed that they relied on Chinese propaganda when deciding how to combat the coronavirus crisis. President Trump is right to question the WHO’s role in global health going forward,” Rep. Jim Jordan, the ranking Republican on the panel, told the Daily Caller.