The United States has formally ended its membership in the World Health Organization (WHO), closing a nearly 80-year relationship with the global health body.
President Donald Trump set the withdrawal in motion through an executive order signed on January 20, 2025, the first day of his second term. In the directive, Trump accused the WHO of failing in its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and other major global health emergencies.
The president also objected to what he described as disproportionate financial contributions made by the U.S. to the organization. The WHO is funded through a mix of voluntary donations and mandatory contributions from member states, assessed according to population size and economic capacity.
Under the executive order, all U.S. funding to the WHO was halted, American personnel working with the organization were reassigned, and federal agencies were instructed to identify alternative international health partnerships.
WHO Director-General, Tedros Ghebreyesus, had responded earlier this month by urging the United States to reconsider. He warned that the decision would have negative consequences for both the U.S. and global public health efforts, describing the move as harmful to international health security.
In a separate statement, the WHO said it regretted the U.S. decision and emphasized the country’s historical role as a founding member and key partner. The organization noted that, with U.S. involvement, it had implemented extensive reforms in recent years to strengthen transparency, efficiency, and impact.
An earlier notice published on the WHO’s website stated that the United States had communicated its intention to withdraw, with an effective date of January 22, 2026, pending review by the organization’s governing bodies. The notice added that references to the U.S. within the WHO framework were subject to that review process.
On Thursday, the withdrawal was confirmed as official.
Although the WHO’s constitution does not explicitly outline a withdrawal process, U.S. lawmakers established conditions for departure when approving membership in 1948. The resolution allows the United States to withdraw after giving one year’s notice and fulfilling all outstanding financial obligations.
While congressional budget allocations had provided funding for the WHO through 2025, Trump’s executive order ordered an immediate suspension of payments. A report by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service later noted uncertainty over whether the U.S. is legally required to continue payments through 2025 or into 2026, citing unclear statutory and organizational guidelines.
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