United States Officially Withdraws from the World Health Organization

Putting an end to all speculation, the United States has officially withdrawn from the World Health Organization (WHO). Despite warnings that the move could have negative consequences for both American and global public health, the Trump administration proceeded with the decision. As a result, the United Nations agency has lost one of its largest donors. British media outlet BBC reported the development.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said the decision was taken due to what it described as WHO’s failures in managing pandemics, its inability to reform, and the political influence exerted by member states.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order a year ago initiating the withdrawal. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he had criticized the WHO, accusing it of showing excessive bias toward China.

The WHO has rejected these allegations. The organization’s Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said that the U.S. withdrawal would be harmful not only for the WHO, but also for the United States and the rest of the world. The WHO highlighted its global work in combating polio, HIV, reducing maternal mortality, and enforcing international treaties on tobacco control as examples of its contributions.

Historically, the United States has been one of the WHO’s largest donors, but it did not pay its contributions for 2024 and 2025. As a result, the organization has carried out widespread job cuts. WHO lawyers have stated that the United States is legally obligated to pay its outstanding dues, amounting to approximately 260 million dollars (£193 million). Washington, however, has said it sees no reason to make the payment.

The United States has stated that all government funding to the WHO has been halted, and that American staff and contractors have been withdrawn from the organization’s headquarters in Geneva and its offices worldwide. In addition, hundreds of U.S.–WHO programs have been suspended or canceled.

In a joint statement, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that everything the United States had done for the WHO had been “tarnished and destroyed.” They further alleged that the organization had strayed from its core mission and repeatedly acted against U.S. interests. They also claimed that the WHO failed even to return the U.S. flag displayed at its Geneva headquarters. The statement added that, going forward, U.S. engagement with the WHO would be limited solely to completing the withdrawal process and protecting the health and security of the American people.

It is worth noting that health experts around the world had urged the United States for a year to reconsider its decision to withdraw. Earlier this month, at a press conference, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, “I hope the United States will return.” He added that withdrawing from the WHO is a loss for both the United States and the rest of the world. Similar sentiments were echoed by Bill Gates.