Local news delivered daily to your email inbox. Subscribe for FREE to the rdnewsNOW newsletter.

Trump envoy to Canada defends pause in World Health Organization funding

Apr 23, 2020 | 3:12 PM

OTTAWA — Donald Trump’s envoy to Canada is defending the U.S. president’s controversial decision to temporarily stop funding the World Health Organization during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Acting ambassador Richard Mills says the pause in funding ordered by the president is necessary so the U.S. can assess the WHO’s transparency and accountability.

The U.S. is the UN agency’s top funder, providing hundreds of millions of dollars annually.

Last week, Trump accused the WHO of a cover-up and making mistakes in handling the outbreak in China.