The United States made its departure from the World Health Organization (WHO) official this Thursday, following through on President Donald Trump’s stated intentions. The move marks the end of nearly eight decades of U.S. participation in the UN’s specialized public health agency.
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Why Did the U.S. Walk Away?
The withdrawal took effect exactly one year after Trump signed Executive Order 14155 on January 20, 2025, which formally set the U.S. intent to leave in motion. The decision stems from allegations of the WHO’s severe mismanagement of the COVID-19 pandemic, a lack of internal reforms, and claims of undue political influence from certain member states, including China.
Official Rationale
Officials from the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and State stated that the country has cut off funding, withdrawn all personnel, and ceased participation in the WHO’s committees, governance structures, and technical groups. Going forward, cooperation with the WHO will be “limited,” with the U.S. focusing on bilateral partnerships with countries and organizations outside the multilateral agency.
According to the U.S. government, the WHO dropped the ball by being slow to declare a global health emergency during the pandemic, failing to adopt deep reforms ensuring political independence, and lacking the accountability and efficiency Washington deemed necessary.
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Impact and Criticism
Public health experts warn that the exit of the U.S.—one of the WHO’s largest financial contributors—could deal a major blow to global health, potentially:
- Weakening the global response to new health threats
- Limiting early access to outbreak data
- Hindering vaccine and drug development
- Harming disease eradication programs, like polio, and maternal and child health initiatives
The U.S. reportedly owes over $130 million in unpaid membership dues from previous years, raising debate about the financial consequences of this departure.
For its part, the WHO has expressed “regret” over Washington’s exit, highlighting the U.S.’s historic role as a key partner in global health initiatives and reiterating its hope to maintain dialogue and cooperation for global health.
