US Withdraws from World Health Organization
President Donald Trump announced that the United States would be exiting the World Health Organization (WHO), primarily due to the organization’s inadequate response to the coronavirus outbreak. He criticized WHO for allegedly enabling the Chinese government to conceal the virus’s spread and for not implementing necessary reforms.
However, former President Joe Biden intervened, halting the planned exit on July 6, 2021.
On his first day back in office, Trump indicated intentions to restart the withdrawal process, which includes a mandatory one-year notice period as per U.S. law. Following this, the Trump administration has already tapered off funding, pulled out employees from the WHO, and redirected efforts that were previously aligned with the organization to direct interactions with other nations and groups.
As of Thursday, the United States officially completed its withdrawal from the WHO.
In a joint statement, the U.S. Departments of State and Health and Human Services commented, “Moving forward, the U.S. will continue to lead in global health through existing and new collaborations with other nations, private sectors, NGOs, and faith-based organizations.”
They further noted that the U.S. is prioritizing emergency responses, biosecurity, and medical innovations to ensure the protection of American interests while supporting global partners.
The accompanying fact sheet outlined that the withdrawal includes ending all funding to the WHO and recalling U.S. personnel. It also stated that the U.S. has ceased formal involvement in WHO committees and other governance structures.
According to the fact sheet, “Withdrawing from WHO re-establishes necessary accountability and transparency for U.S. taxpayers.”
Established in 1948, the WHO is a specialized agency of the United Nations that has historically depended on U.S. financial and technical support. As a founding member, the U.S. has been the largest contributor, contributing hundreds of millions annually and representing over 20% of total member contributions.
Although the Trump administration adhered to the requirement to provide notice, critics argue that this withdrawal puts the U.S. in breach of its financial commitments to the WHO. This could leave the U.S. liable for around $278 million owed from 2024 to 2025.
A State Department representative confirmed, “The United States will not finance the WHO leading up to our withdrawal,” highlighting that the expenses incurred by U.S. taxpayers following the WHO’s failures amid the pandemic are overly burdensome.
Commenting on the situation, Lawrence Gostin from the WHO stated, “This is a very public and messy divorce.” He likened the scenario to a marriage where one party refuses to fulfill financial obligations.
Despite the complexities, WHO’s chief legal officer suggested that member states would examine whether the U.S. fulfilled its withdrawal conditions. WHO leader Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed concerns over the impending withdrawal, calling it a loss for both the United States and the global community.
Bill Gates, known for his investment in WHO initiatives, remarked that a U.S. rejoining of the organization is unlikely in the near future.
