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.
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?
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.
WOW!!! This guy gives “both siderism” an entirely new meaning!
Yes. Though as the Ukraine Shakedown demonstrated (don’t you love ancient history?), sometimes the funds get lost before delivery.
In typical Trump fashion, I’m pretty sure the announcement was the goal, and beyond transparent blame-deflection there isn’t much to this.
Yes, I think so too. Make his 35% think the WHO must be at fault because why otherwise would he cut their funding.
The Democrats think it’s illegal to cut off the funds:
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/04/15/house-democrats-trump-who-funding-188124
The gop says:
But a senior administration official pointed to language included in fiscal 2020 appropriations law requiring that the administration spend the money on “necessary expenses, not otherwise provided for, to meet annual obligations of membership in international multilateral organizations.” The language doesn’t specify that the dollars must flow to WHO, the official said.
“We believe that pursuant to the appropriation, we have broad discretion to spend that money,” the administration official said.
Ruh-roh…
Wonder what Dr. Jenius von Stable will have to say about this obviously fake study?
Guess it’s off to the GOPSCOTUS. They’ll set things right.
Everyone in this maladministration involved in the CDC knows that BLOTUS is an absolute unmitigated asshole, but if they call him on it, then he’ll fire them. It’s not like they love the job that much, but they feel a sense of duty in a time of pandemic. So they dance around the asshole. I don’t think they feel good enough to dance around a maypole just yet.
Calling it now: Within 2 weeks Trump will claim victory over the WHO in some way and restore funding. Or at least will claim he is going to restore funding.
Doesn’t count, because they only tested foreigners.
Which reminds me, if he does manage to cut off funding, where will they spend the money? (cough, jared, cough)
You mean “Soon to be FIRED CDC Director Robert Redfield.”
TFIFY.
Included in Congress.
(Unfortunately.)
Isn’t ‘foreign science’ in 2020 the same as ‘jewish science’ in 1936?
Yes, stupidity is timeless.
