US Formally Exits WHO, Cuts Funding and Recalls Staff
Trump administration cites Covid handling and reform failures; WHO warns of global impact
- US completes withdrawal from World Health Organization
- Funding halted; staff and contractors recalled worldwide
- Arrears estimated at $260 million remain unpaid
- WHO says exit is a loss for global public health
GG News Bureau
WASHINGTON/GENEVA, 23rd Jan: The United States has formally withdrawn from the World Health Organization (WHO), cutting ties with the UN health body and ending funding, in a move that leaves the agency without one of its largest donors.
US President Donald Trump had signed an executive order signalling the withdrawal a year ago, accusing the WHO of being too “China-centric” during the Covid-19 pandemic. The US Department of Health and Human Services said the decision was based on what it described as the WHO’s mishandling of the pandemic, failure to reform and political influence from member states.
The WHO rejected the allegations. Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the US exit was a loss not only for the organisation but for global public health, pointing to WHO-led efforts against polio, HIV/AIDS, maternal mortality and its international tobacco control treaty.
Washington has traditionally been one of the WHO’s biggest donors but has not paid its assessed contributions for 2024 and 2025, triggering job losses at the agency. WHO lawyers estimate US arrears at about $260 million, though US officials said they see no reason to pay the outstanding amount.
US authorities said all government funding to the WHO has been terminated, American personnel and contractors have been recalled from WHO headquarters in Geneva and offices worldwide, and hundreds of US engagements with the organisation have been suspended or discontinued.
In a joint statement, US Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy and Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the WHO had “abandoned its core mission” and acted against US interests. They added that future US engagement with the WHO would be limited strictly to managing the withdrawal and safeguarding the health of Americans.
US officials said Washington would pursue bilateral arrangements with other countries for disease surveillance and pathogen sharing, and would work with NGOs and faith-based groups to continue efforts against diseases such as polio and HIV, though details of partnerships were not provided.
Following the pandemic, WHO member states agreed on an international pandemic treaty last year to improve preparedness and ensure fairer sharing of vaccines and medicines. The United States did not sign the agreement.
The WHO said the US withdrawal will be discussed at its upcoming executive board meeting from February 2 to 7, and that its secretariat will act in line with guidance from its governing bodies.
