The United States has officially completed its withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) confirmed on Thursday, finalising a long-standing objective of President Donald Trump.
Trump first attempted to pull the US out of the WHO during his first term. On the first day of his second term, he renewed that effort by signing an executive order formally notifying the organisation of America’s intention to leave. Under international law, the US was required to give one year’s notice and settle outstanding financial obligations before the withdrawal could take effect.
Outstanding Dues Unpaid
Despite the withdrawal being finalised, the US still reportedly owes the WHO about $260 million in unpaid contributions. Legal experts say the US is unlikely to pay the arrears and that the WHO has limited options to enforce payment.
“As a matter of law, it is very clear that the United States cannot officially withdraw from WHO unless it pays its outstanding financial obligations,” said Dr. Lawrence Gostin, a global health law expert at Georgetown University. “But WHO has no power to force the US to pay what it owes.”
While the WHO could theoretically pass a resolution challenging the withdrawal, experts believe it is unlikely to escalate tensions further.
US Ends All WHO Engagement
HHS said all US government funding to WHO has been terminated, and all American personnel and contractors working with or embedded in the organisation have been recalled. The US has also ceased participation in WHO-led committees, governance bodies, leadership forums, and technical working groups.
Senior administration officials defended the decision, saying the US had not received sufficient value for its financial and personnel contributions.
“A promise made and a promise kept,” one official said, adding that the WHO had acted “contrary to the US interest in protecting the American public.”
Officials also pointed out that despite being the WHO’s largest donor, the organisation has never had an American director-general.
COVID-19 Criticism Central to Exit
HHS cited what it described as WHO’s failures during the COVID-19 pandemic as a major reason for the withdrawal. The agency accused the organisation of delaying the declaration of a global public health emergency and of praising China’s early response despite alleged underreporting and information suppression.
The US also criticised WHO’s initial reluctance to acknowledge airborne transmission and asymptomatic spread of the virus.
“This action means our country’s health policies can no longer be constrained by unaccountable foreign bureaucrats,” an HHS official said.
US Plans New Global Health Strategy
Despite leaving the WHO, the administration insists the US will remain a global health leader. Officials say future efforts will focus on bilateral agreements with individual countries, partnerships with non-governmental organisations, and collaborations led by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
However, details of this new strategy have yet to be released.
Experts Warn of Serious Risks
Public health experts have widely criticised the decision, warning it could weaken global disease surveillance and leave the US more vulnerable to future outbreaks.
“This is scientifically reckless,” said Dr. Ronald Nahass, president of the Infectious Diseases Society of America. “Global cooperation is not a luxury; it is a biological necessity.”
Dr. Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, warned that future pandemics could be deadlier as a result.
“When the next pandemic hits — and it will — the United States will not be prepared,” he said.
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus previously described the US exit as a “lose-lose” situation, saying both the US and the rest of the world would suffer the consequences.
