On Thursday, the United States flag was officially lowered at the World Health Organization’s headquarters in Geneva, signaling America’s formal exit from the UN health agency after a year of warnings from international health experts.
President Donald Trump had signed an executive order on his first day in office in 2025, announcing the withdrawal and criticizing the WHO’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic as the key reason for the decision.
The departure has created a financial strain for the WHO, prompting plans to reduce its management team by 50 percent and potentially cut around a quarter of its staff by mid-year. The United States had traditionally been the organisation’s largest contributor, providing roughly 18 percent of its overall budget.
Dispute over unpaid fees
Under US law, the country was required to give one year’s notice and settle all outstanding fees—estimated at $260 million—before fully withdrawing. However, a State Department official rejected the need for payment, stating, “The American people have paid more than enough.”
The Department of Health and Human Services confirmed that the US had ended all funding contributions to the agency. A spokesperson justified the move by claiming that the organisation had cost the US trillions of dollars.
The WHO, however, noted that the US has not yet settled its fees for 2024 and 2025. Member states are expected to discuss the situation and next steps at the agency’s executive board meeting in February.
Limited future cooperation
A joint statement from the US Health and State Departments said America will maintain only limited cooperation with the WHO to complete the withdrawal process.
“We have no plans to participate as an observer, and we have no plans to rejoin,” a senior US health official said. Instead, the US intends to work directly with other countries on disease surveillance and public health priorities.
The US has recently taken steps to exit several other UN organisations, raising concerns that the newly launched Board of Peace initiative could weaken the UN system overall. Some critics of the WHO have suggested creating a new global health agency, though proposals reviewed last year favored reforming the existing organisation with stronger American leadership.
Global health concerns
Bill Gates, whose foundation supports several WHO programs, told Reuters at the Davos forum that he does not expect the US to reconsider its decision in the near term but will continue advocating for America’s return.
“The world needs the World Health Organization,” Gates said, emphasizing the agency’s critical role in global health coordination.
