US Officially Leaves World Health Organization.

 

The United States has completed its exit from the World Health Organization after more than a year of steps leading to the withdrawal. 

The decision stems from concerns over the global health body's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and its reluctance to make reforms.

The process began in January 2025 when President Donald Trump announced plans to leave the WHO. 

Over the year, the U.S. cut funding, recalled staff, and shifted work previously coordinated with the WHO to direct collaborations with other countries and organisations.

Officials said the U.S. was dissatisfied with WHO’s early response to COVID-19. 

They noted delays in declaring a global health emergency and a pandemic, as well as the organisation’s praise of China’s actions despite reports of delayed reporting, limited information sharing, and slow recognition of human-to-human transmission. 

The U.S. also raised concerns about WHO’s handling of the virus’s spread, including underestimating asymptomatic and airborne transmission.

The statement added that the WHO had failed to adopt needed reforms following the pandemic.

 It also criticized the agency’s report on the virus’s origins for dismissing the possibility of laboratory involvement while citing limited access to early genetic data and laboratory records from Wuhan.

WHO noted that the U.S. had not paid membership fees for 2024 and 2025, totaling roughly $260 million. 

The organisation said it would discuss the departure at its executive board meeting in February but had no way to reverse the exit. 

WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus described the U.S. decision as a loss for both the country and the international community, and he expressed hope the U.S. might rejoin in the future.

The White House said the U.S. will continue engaging globally on health matters through partnerships with countries, private sector groups, non-governmental organisations, and faith-based organisations. 

The focus will remain on emergency response, biosecurity coordination, and health innovation at home and abroad.