The United States has officially withdrawn from the World Health Organization (WHO), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the State Department said Thursday, completing the withdrawal process that began a year ago through an executive order signed by President Donald Trump.
The Trump administration has accused the WHO of straying from its original mission and failing to reform and be accountable. The United States has long been dissatisfied with the organization’s role, particularly at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the administration, the delay in declaring a global emergency and some decisions were against US interests.
It also highlights the fact that the US has never had a US citizen at the helm of the WHO, despite its relatively high level of funding. According to the WHO, more than $133 million in US funding for the 2024-25 fiscal year is still outstanding. However, the White House claims that it is not legally obligated to pay this money.
The White House said that despite leaving the WHO, the United States will remain active in global public health efforts. Currently, more than 2,000 US health workers are working in 63 countries around the world and bilateral health cooperation continues with more than 100 countries.
The WHO said the US withdrawal will be discussed at the organization’s executive board meeting in February and the next steps will be determined from there.