The United States has formally completed its withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO), a year after former President Donald Trump ordered the exit. This move ends all US participation in the UN health agency but leaves behind an unpaid debt of approximately $260 million. The US Department of Health and Human Services confirmed that all funding to the WHO has ceased, and American personnel have been recalled from WHO offices and headquarters worldwide. The withdrawal also terminates US involvement in WHO leadership bodies, technical committees, and working groups.
The Trump administration cited the WHO’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, alleged lack of independence, and failure to implement reforms as reasons for the withdrawal. Officials have stated that there is no legal obligation for the US to settle outstanding debts before leaving, despite a 1948 Congressional resolution requiring one year’s notice and payment of dues. As a result, the US has not paid contributions for 2024 and 2025, leaving a substantial funding gap.
The exit deprives the WHO of its largest donor. Between 2022 and 2023, the US contributed nearly $1.3 billion, making it a critical funder of global health initiatives. Experts warn that the withdrawal could severely impact efforts to respond to new outbreaks, develop vaccines and treatments, and maintain critical global health programs. Lawrence Gostin, director of the WHO Collaborating Center on National and Global Health Law, called the move “the most ruinous presidential decision in my lifetime,” emphasizing its potential to hinder US scientists and pharmaceutical companies from addressing global health threats.
The US departure has broad implications for global health. WHO coordinates responses to pandemics, distributes vaccines and treatments, and provides technical support to lower-income nations. Losing the US as an active partner and contributor could affect initiatives such as polio eradication, maternal and child health programs, and research on emerging viruses. Experts also warn that by leaving WHO committees and technical groups, the US risks losing access to vital data, including global influenza trends that inform vaccine production and outbreak response.
Dr. Ronald Nahass, president of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, described the decision as “shortsighted and misguided” and “scientifically reckless,” underscoring concerns about the long-term consequences for both global health security and the US public health system.
