The United States has officially withdrawn from the World Health Organization (WHO), terminating all government funding and ending its participation in the UN health agency.
US authorities confirmed that all financial contributions to the WHO have been stopped, with American personnel and contractors recalled from the organisation’s headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, and its offices worldwide.
The decision follows an executive order signed by President Donald Trump about a year ago, citing concerns over the WHO’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. The US Department of Health and Human Services said the withdrawal was due to alleged mismanagement of the pandemic, lack of reforms, and political influence by member states.
The WHO rejected the accusations, with Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus describing the US exit as a setback for global public health. He noted that the organisation plays a key role in combating diseases such as polio and HIV/AIDS, improving maternal health, and coordinating responses to global health emergencies.
Washington has historically been one of the WHO’s largest donors but has not paid its assessed contributions for 2024 and 2025, a shortfall estimated by WHO officials at about $260 million, contributing to job losses within the agency.
In a joint statement, US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the WHO had acted against American interests and abandoned its core mission. They added that future US engagement with the organisation would be limited to facilitating the withdrawal and safeguarding US public health.
The US government said it plans to pursue bilateral health partnerships and work with non-governmental and faith-based organisations on global health initiatives, though details remain unclear. Officials were also unable to confirm whether the US would continue participating in global influenza surveillance and vaccine development.