The United States has officially withdrawn from the World Health Organization (WHO), ending a year-long process that global health experts had warned would harm both U.S. and international public health efforts. The decision, announced on Thursday, January 22, 2026, reflects what the U.S. government described as failures in the U.N. health agency’s management of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Background to the Withdrawal
President Donald Trump gave notice of the U.S. exit on the first day of his presidency in 2025, via executive order. According to a joint press release from the U.S. Health and State Departments, the U.S. will now only work with WHO in a limited capacity to finalize the withdrawal.
“We have no plans to participate as an observer, and we have no plans of rejoining,” a senior government health official said.
Instead, Washington intends to collaborate directly with other countries on disease surveillance and public health priorities, bypassing international organizations.
Dispute Over Outstanding Fees
Under U.S. law, the government was required to give one-year notice and settle all outstanding fees estimated at $260 million before departure. However, a State Department official disputed that payment was a prerequisite for withdrawal.
“The American people have paid more than enough,” a spokesperson said.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) confirmed that funding contributions to WHO had already been halted, citing claims that the organization had cost the U.S. “trillions of dollars.” Witnesses reported that the U.S. flag was removed from outside WHO headquarters in Geneva on Thursday.
Wider UN Implications
The withdrawal comes amid a broader U.S. retreat from several United Nations organizations, raising concerns that Trump’s newly launched Board of Peace could further undermine the UN system.
While some WHO critics have proposed creating a new agency to replace the organization, internal documents reviewed by the Trump administration last year suggested pushing for reforms and greater American leadership within WHO instead.
Global Reactions
WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and other global health leaders have urged the U.S. to reconsider. WHO also noted that the U.S. has not paid fees owed for 2024 and 2025, with member states set to discuss the departure at the agency’s executive board meeting in February.
Lawrence Gostin, founding director of the O’Neill Institute for Global Health Law at Georgetown University, called the move a violation of U.S. law:
“This is a clear violation of U.S. law. But Trump is highly likely to get away with it.”
At Davos, Bill Gates, chair of the Gates Foundation, said he did not expect the U.S. to reconsider in the short term but vowed to continue advocating for rejoining:
“The world needs the World Health Organization.”
Impact on WHO and Global Health
The U.S. has traditionally been WHO’s largest financial backer, contributing around 18% of its overall funding. Its departure has triggered a financial crisis, forcing WHO to:
- Cut its management team in half
- Scale back programs and budgets
- Shed around 25% of its staff by mid-2026
Global health experts warn that the withdrawal could weaken systems designed to detect, prevent, and respond to health threats worldwide.
“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 program lead at Bloomberg Philanthropies.
Conclusion
The U.S. exit from WHO marks a turning point in global health governance, raising questions about how international cooperation will function without Washington’s financial and strategic support. As WHO struggles to adapt to reduced funding and capacity, the world faces heightened risks in responding to pandemics and other health emergencies.
