The United States has officially withdrawn from the World Health Organization (WHO), despite repeated warnings over the past year that the move could harm public health both domestically and globally. The U.S. government said the decision reflects what it described as failures in the U.N. health agency’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
President Donald Trump issued formal notice of the withdrawal on the first day of his presidency in 2025 through an executive order.
Limited Future Engagement with WHO
According to a joint press release from the U.S. Departments of Health and State, the United States will now engage with the WHO only in a limited manner to facilitate the withdrawal process.
“We have no plans to participate as an observer, and we have no plans of rejoining,” a senior U.S. government health official said. Instead, the administration plans to work directly with individual countries on disease surveillance and other public health priorities, rather than through an international organization.
Dispute Over Outstanding Membership Fees
Under U.S. law, the country is required to provide one year’s notice and settle all outstanding dues—estimated at around $260 million—before leaving the organization. However, the U.S. State Department disputed the interpretation that payment must precede withdrawal.
“The American people have paid more than enough,” a State Department spokesperson said in an email statement.
Meanwhile, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) confirmed that the government has ended its funding contributions to the WHO. An HHS spokesperson said President Trump exercised his authority to pause all future transfers of U.S. government resources, arguing that the organization had cost the U.S. trillions of dollars.
Symbolic and Institutional Fallout
On Thursday, witnesses reported that the U.S. flag was removed from outside the WHO headquarters in Geneva, marking the formal end of U.S. membership.
In recent weeks, the U.S. has also moved to exit several other United Nations bodies, raising concerns among analysts that the administration’s newly launched Board of Peace could weaken the U.N. system as a whole.
While some critics have suggested creating a new global health agency to replace the WHO, a proposal reviewed by the Trump administration last year instead recommended pushing for reforms and stronger American leadership within the existing organization.
Quick Return Appears Unlikely
Over the past year, numerous global health experts have urged the U.S. to reconsider its decision, including WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. However, a rapid reversal now appears unlikely.
The WHO said the U.S. has not yet paid its membership dues for 2024 and 2025. Member states are expected to discuss the U.S. departure and its implications at the WHO Executive Board meeting in February, according to a spokesperson.
“This is a clear violation of U.S. law,” said Lawrence Gostin, founding director of the O’Neill Institute for Global Health Law at Georgetown University. “But Trump is highly likely to get away with it.”
Global Leaders React
Speaking to Reuters at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Bill Gates, chair of the Gates Foundation and a major supporter of global health initiatives, said he did not expect the U.S. to reverse course in the near term.
Nevertheless, Gates said he would continue advocating for renewed engagement. “The world needs the World Health Organization,” he said.
Impact on WHO and Global Health
As reported by Reuters, the U.S. withdrawal has triggered a financial crisis within the WHO. As its largest single contributor—accounting for around 18 percent of total funding—Washington’s exit has forced the agency to cut its senior management team by half and scale back programmes across departments. The WHO also plans to reduce its workforce by approximately 25 percent by mid-year.
Although the agency confirmed that it has continued sharing information with the U.S. over the past year, the nature of future collaboration remains unclear.
Experts Warn of Global Health Risks
Public health experts warned that the decision carries significant risks for global disease preparedness and response.
“The U.S. withdrawal from WHO could weaken the systems and collaborations the world relies on to detect, prevent, and respond to health threats,” said Kelly Henning, public health programme lead at Bloomberg Philanthropies.
The move marks a significant shift in U.S. global health policy and raises concerns about the future of international cooperation in managing public health emergencies.