U.S. Officially Exits World Health Organization

The United States has fully completed the process of withdrawing from the World Health Organization (WHO). On Thursday, the U.S. flag was lowered in front of the organization’s headquarters in Geneva, Reuters reports.

Reason for Withdrawal and Political Decision

President Donald Trump signed the relevant decree on his first day in office in 2025, a year after initially signaling his intention. Washington cites the WHO’s “ineffective management” during the COVID-19 pandemic and errors made by the UN-affiliated agency as the main reasons for the decision.

A joint statement from the U.S. State Department and Department of Health and Human Services said that America will maintain only limited contact with WHO to manage the withdrawal process.

“We do not plan to participate as an observer, nor do we plan to return to the organization,” a senior U.S. official said.

Under U.S. law, the country was required to notify the WHO one year in advance and pay off all arrears, totaling approximately $260 million. However, the State Department has rejected this requirement.

“The American people have paid enough,” a department spokesperson stated.

The Trump administration argued that the WHO’s actions caused trillions of dollars in losses to the U.S. economy and has halted all funding, leaving the organization in a significant financial crisis.

Financial Shortfall

• The U.S. was WHO’s largest donor, providing 18% of the organization’s budget.

• Staff reductions: WHO has cut its management team by half and plans to lay off one-quarter of employees by mid-year.

• Structural concerns: Some experts suggest creating a new international agency to replace the WHO, while others fear Trump’s recently established Board of Peace could reduce the UN’s influence.

Expert Opinions

Major donors, including Bill Gates, have indicated that the U.S. is unlikely to reverse its decision soon. Meanwhile, Lawrence Gostin, a professor at Georgetown University, described the move as a direct violation of U.S. law.

Kelly Henning of Bloomberg Philanthropies warned that America’s withdrawal could weaken global health securityand pose a serious threat to systems for detecting and responding to new outbreaks.