Former President Donald Trump officially cut ties with the World Health Organization (WHO) on January 23, 2026. This decision came exactly one year after he signed an executive order on January 20, 2025, to start the withdrawal process. U.S. law required a year’s notice and the payment of outstanding fees before the official departure could take place.
Although the withdrawal process began during Trump’s first term in 2020, President Biden reversed it in 2021. The U.S. owed the WHO over $260 million for the years 2024 and 2025. The Trump administration argued they weren’t obligated to pay, citing the WHO Constitution from 1948. However, a senior Health and Human Services (HHS) official disputed this payment obligation, even though United Nations rules require settling dues for withdrawal.
The U.S. owed the WHO over $260 million, yet the Trump administration contested its payment obligations.
Curiously, China, with a population nearly four times larger than the U.S., contributes nearly 90 percent less to the WHO. The administration’s rationale for the withdrawal included accusations that WHO strayed from its mission. They criticized WHO’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, claiming it delayed declaring a global health emergency.
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stated that the organization had become “mired in bureaucratic bloat” and conflicts of interest. The Trump administration felt WHO unfairly criticized their travel restrictions during the pandemic.
Public health experts have expressed concern over the withdrawal. Ronald Nahass, president of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, called the move “shortsighted.” Experts warned that the U.S. could be at a disadvantage in responding to health crises. The withdrawal could hinder U.S. surveillance efforts for emerging health threats, including flu outbreaks. The WHO Director General called the U.S. departure a global loss, highlighting the importance of U.S. involvement in responding to health challenges. Experts emphasize the need for global cooperation in health crises, which could be undermined by the withdrawal.
HHS stated there are no immediate plans to rejoin WHO. Instead, they plan to maintain global health leadership through existing agreements with hundreds of countries. HHS has over 2,000 staff members in 63 countries ready to work on health issues.
