Trump Completes U.S. Withdrawal From World Health Organization
The United States has officially completed its withdrawal from the World Health Organization, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced Thursday, marking the fulfillment of a long-standing objective of Donald Trump.
Trump first attempted to leave the global health body during his initial term in office and later issued formal notice through an executive order on the first day of his second term. Under U.S. law, withdrawal required a one-year notice period and settlement of outstanding financial obligations before it could take effect. Despite those requirements, the United States is reported to still owe roughly $260 million to the organization, raising questions among legal experts about the finality of the move.
Lawrence Gostin, a global health law specialist at Georgetown University, noted that while U.S. law suggests financial obligations should be paid before a withdrawal is finalized, the WHO has limited authority to enforce payment. Gostin added that although the organization could theoretically attempt to challenge the decision through a formal resolution, such a move is considered unlikely given the administration’s clear intent to depart.
Health and Human Services officials confirmed that all U.S. government funding to the WHO has now ended. Additionally, American personnel and contractors previously assigned to work with the organization have been recalled. The United States has also halted participation in WHO-sponsored committees, governance bodies, and technical working groups.
Administration officials indicated that some limited collaboration could still occur. When asked about potential involvement in an upcoming WHO-led meeting on next year’s influenza vaccine formulation, officials said discussions were ongoing and no final decision had been made.
During a briefing with reporters, a senior administration official defended the withdrawal, arguing that the United States had not received sufficient value from its membership. The official said the move fulfilled a campaign promise and claimed the WHO had acted in ways that conflicted with U.S. interests in protecting public health. The official also pointed out that although the United States has historically been the organization’s largest contributor, no American has ever served as director-general.
The administration cited the WHO’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic as a central reason for leaving. Officials criticized what they described as delays in declaring a global emergency and accused the organization of initially accepting information from China that later proved incomplete. They also argued that early guidance on airborne transmission and asymptomatic spread evolved too slowly.
Despite the withdrawal, officials said the United States intends to maintain a leading role in global health efforts. The administration plans to work directly with individual countries, non-governmental organizations, and faith-based groups to support disease monitoring and information sharing. This effort is expected to be coordinated through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Global Health Center.
However, some public health experts warned that replacing WHO coordination with bilateral partnerships could create gaps in global surveillance. Critics argued that while the CDC operates in dozens of countries, it may not match the WHO’s worldwide reach and coordination capabilities.
Ronald Nahass, president of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, described the withdrawal as a risky decision that could weaken global health cooperation and leave nations more vulnerable to emerging biological threats.