A sweeping executive decision ends decades of US involvement with the World Health Organization, triggering global concern over public health, disease surveillance, and international cooperation.
The United States has formally withdrawn from the World Health Organization following the completion of a mandatory one-year notice period. The move was confirmed through an executive order signed by President Donald Trump at the beginning of his second term in office.
According to President Trump, the primary motivation behind the decision is financial. “The World Health Organization has exploited us, everyone exploits America, and we can’t let that happen anymore,” he said. The administration argues that the United States has been paying a disproportionate share of WHO funding, while countries such as China, despite having significantly larger populations, contribute more than 90 percent less.
The Trump administration has also criticized the WHO for what it describes as repeated failures in managing global health crises, including the Covid pandemic, and for being overly influenced by political pressure. The President has stated that US resources should instead be redirected toward domestic priorities such as infrastructure development, military readiness, and border security.
The United States has historically been the WHO’s largest financial contributor, providing between $160 million and $815 million annually. Health experts warn that the withdrawal could severely disrupt critical programs, including polio eradication, maternal and child health initiatives, and global disease surveillance. Reduced capacity to detect and monitor emerging epidemics could increase the risk of deadly outbreaks spreading worldwide.
Reports also indicate that the US has not paid approximately $228 million owed for the 2024–25 fiscal year.
In response, the World Health Organization said that more than 70 years of cooperation with the United States helped eliminate smallpox and nearly eradicate polio. The organization noted it has implemented major reforms over the past seven years and expressed hope that the US will reconsider its decision.
The Trump administration has additionally signaled plans to withdraw from 35 other international organizations and 31 United Nations agencies.
