The United States has formally withdrawn from the World Health Organization (WHO), ending its membership in the UN agency and leaving one of the organization’s largest donors out of the global health body.
President Donald Trump signed the executive order initiating the withdrawal a year ago, having repeatedly criticised the WHO for being too “China-centric” during the COVID-19 pandemic and for alleged “mishandling” of the crisis.
The US Department of Health and Human Services confirmed the decision, citing the WHO’s inability to reform and perceived political influence from member states.
In a joint statement, US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared:
“The WHO tarnished and trashed everything that America has done for it. The organisation has abandoned its core mission and acted repeatedly against the interests of the United States.”
They added that the US had terminated all government funding, recalled US personnel and contractors from WHO headquarters in Geneva and offices worldwide, and suspended or discontinued hundreds of engagements with the agency.
“Going forward, U.S. engagement with the WHO will be limited strictly to effectuate our withdrawal and to safeguard the health and safety of the American people,” they stated.
The US has also refused to pay its outstanding arrears, estimated at $260 million (£193 million) for 2024 and 2025, despite WHO lawyers arguing that the country remains obligated under international law.
The WHO rejected the US criticisms and described the withdrawal as a “loss for the US and the world”.
Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus highlighted the agency’s global efforts in combating polio, HIV/AIDS, maternal mortality, and its international treaty on tobacco control.
“The WHO and the USA have saved countless lives and protected Americans and all people from health threats,” the organisation said in a statement.
The WHO noted that the US withdrawal will be on the agenda for its upcoming board meeting from February 2–7, 2026.
The US was traditionally one of the WHO’s biggest donors. The withdrawal has already caused significant job losses at the organisation and threatens ongoing programmes.
The US has said it will pursue bilateral relations with other countries for disease surveillance and pathogen sharing, but officials were unable to provide details of any such partnerships established so far.
When asked about continued participation in global efforts like polio eradication, HIV response, or the annual flu vaccine development, US officials said the country would partner with NGOs and faith-based groups, but no specific partnerships were named.
The international pandemic treaty, agreed by all WHO member states except the US in April 2025, aimed to improve global cooperation on future pandemics, including fairer sharing of vaccines and drugs. The US withdrawal raises questions about its future role in such initiatives.
Trump’s decision follows years of criticism of the WHO, including his first-term attempt to withdraw in 2020 (which was reversed by President Biden in 2021).
The move comes as the US also pursues other unilateral health and foreign policy shifts, including threats over territorial control (e.g., Greenland) and trade tensions.
The WHO remains committed to its global health mandate, but the loss of the US as a major donor and partner marks a significant challenge for the organisation and international health cooperation.
