Washington, D.C., Sketsa.id – The United States officially completed its withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO) on January 22, 2026, ending a year-long notice period initiated by President Donald Trump.
The move fulfills an executive order signed by Trump on his first day back in office, January 20, 2025, which directed the U.S. to exit the Geneva-based agency. In a joint statement released Thursday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. confirmed the termination of U.S. membership, stating that the decision protects American sovereignty and taxpayer dollars.
“The United States has withdrawn from the World Health Organization after a one-year notice period, due to the organization’s failure to implement meaningful reforms and its mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic,” the statement read.
The withdrawal process began amid long-standing criticisms from Trump and his administration, who accused WHO of being overly influenced by external powers—particularly China—during the early stages of the coronavirus outbreak and of resisting calls for greater transparency and accountability.
Throughout 2025, the U.S. suspended its financial contributions to WHO, leaving an outstanding balance estimated between $133 million and $278 million, according to various reports from the agency and independent analyses. WHO officials have maintained that full withdrawal cannot be finalized until outstanding dues are settled, though the U.S. government has treated the exit as complete as of January 22.
Reactions from Global Health Community and Lawmakers
The decision has drawn sharp criticism from public health experts, international organizations, and some U.S. lawmakers. Lawrence O. Gostin, a prominent global health law expert, described the withdrawal as a setback for collective pandemic preparedness, noting that the U.S. was historically the largest single contributor to WHO’s budget.
“By stepping away, the United States cedes influence on global health policy at a time when emerging infectious threats remain a serious risk,” Gostin said in a statement.
Democratic lawmakers, including members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, echoed concerns that the move could weaken international surveillance of disease outbreaks and reduce U.S. leverage in shaping global health standards. On the other hand, supporters of the administration’s policy argue that bilateral partnerships and direct aid will prove more effective and accountable than multilateral structures perceived as inefficient
The Infectious Diseases Society of America and other medical groups expressed worry over potential disruptions to programs involving vaccine distribution, disease monitoring, and emergency response in low- and middle-income countries.
Looking Ahead
With the U.S. no longer a member, WHO faces a significant funding gap that could affect its operations worldwide. Administration officials have indicated that the United States will continue cooperating on health issues through bilateral agreements and other channels, but will not participate in WHO governance or treaty negotiations, including the ongoing discussions on a pandemic preparedness accord.
The withdrawal revives a policy Trump first pursued during his initial term in 2020, which was reversed by the Biden administration in 2021.
Observers will now watch closely to see how the absence of the world’s largest economy reshapes global health diplomacy and whether other nations adjust their own relationships with the agency.
