Kathmandu — The United States has officially completed its withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO), as announced by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of State. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Secretary of State Marco Rubio formally declared the termination of U.S. membership in the global health body. This move fulfills a primary objective of President Donald Trump, who announced the intent to exit the organization immediately upon taking office on January 20, 2025. Throughout the year-long transition, the U.S. had already halted its financial contributions and recalled its personnel from WHO offices. Moving forward, the U.S. government stated that it will maintain only limited coordination with the agency.
The decision stems from long-standing criticisms by President Trump regarding the WHO’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Trump argued that the organization failed to act quickly in declaring a global public health emergency and was not sufficiently critical of China during the initial outbreak. He repeatedly claimed the organization lacked justification for its current structure and was overly influenced by Beijing. With this withdrawal, the U.S. will pivot its focus toward a decentralized model of global health leadership, opting to work directly with other nations, the private sector, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and religious institutions to manage international health initiatives.
The departure of the United States leaves a significant financial and operational gap in the WHO. Historically, the U.S. was one of the largest contributors to the organization, providing an average of $111 million annually in assessed and voluntary contributions. Beyond financial aid, the U.S. also provided a substantial number of experts and volunteers to assist in global health crises. By severing these ties, the Trump administration signals a major shift toward bilateral health diplomacy, ending a decades-long partnership with the United Nations’ health agency.
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