A virologist says U.S. foreign policy decisions are harming the global ability to prepare for and respond to future pandemics [1, 2].
This shift in policy creates a critical gap in the international health infrastructure. Because pandemic preparedness relies on sustained, upfront investment, the removal of key financial and organizational support increases the risk of delayed responses to emerging viral threats.
Dr. Angie Rasmussen, a virologist at the University of Saskatchewan's Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization, said that the U.S. withdrawal from the World Health Organization is a primary driver of this decline [1, 2]. She said the termination of funding for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) further undermines the global effort [1, 2].
Global health security depends on a network of coordinated funding and collaboration. When the U.S. exits these frameworks, the ability to conduct early-stage preparedness efforts is reduced [1, 2]. Rasmussen said these actions hinder the collective capacity to monitor and mitigate infectious diseases before they become global crises.
Effective pandemic prevention requires a consistent flow of resources to develop surveillance systems and vaccine research. The current policy trajectory disrupts these long-term investments, making the world more vulnerable to the next pathogen [1, 2].
According to Rasmussen, the lack of coordinated leadership and funding prevents the establishment of a robust global defense system [1, 2]. Without the participation of the U.S. in the WHO and the support of USAID, the international community loses a critical pillar of stability, and expertise needed to manage public health emergencies [1, 2].
“U.S. foreign policy decisions are harming the global ability to prepare for and respond to future pandemics.”
The warning from the University of Saskatchewan highlights a tension between nationalistic foreign policy and global health security. Since pandemics are inherently transborder events, the effectiveness of the World Health Organization and USAID is tied to the participation of the world's largest economy. A retreat from these institutions suggests a shift toward reactive rather than proactive health management, potentially increasing the time it takes to identify and contain new outbreaks.
