The United States will officially leave the World Health Organization (WHO) on January 22, 2026, according to the United Nations. This announcement came after President Donald Trump informed the UN of his decision. Trump has accused the WHO of mishandling global health issues, especially the COVID-19 pandemic and other health emergencies.
Why is the US Leaving the WHO?
On January 22, 2025, Trump notified the UN of the U.S. decision to withdraw. He claimed that the WHO had failed to manage global health crises effectively. The WHO, which has been the United States’ most significant health partner, expressed regret over the move, as the U.S. is the largest financial supporter of the organization, contributing around 18% of its budget.
What Does This Mean for the WHO?
The U.S. withdrawal could have a significant impact on WHO programs, especially those focused on urgent health issues like tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and other global health crises. The U.S. is the largest financial contributor to WHO’s budget, which for the years 2024-2025 is $6.8 billion.
As part of the withdrawal, Trump’s administration will also stop working on the WHO’s pandemic treaty and pull out U.S. personnel from WHO-related projects. The U.S. will look for new partners to take over essential WHO work.
A History of Tensions
This move to leave the WHO isn’t entirely surprising. Trump had already made efforts to pull the U.S. out of the organization in 2020 during his first term as president. However, when President Joe Biden took office in January 2021, he reversed that decision, allowing the U.S. to stay in the organization. Now, Trump’s second term has brought the withdrawal back into action, with the decision set to be finalized in 2026.
Next Steps
With the withdrawal plan set to take effect in 2026, the world will be closely watching how the U.S. departure impacts global health programs, especially those related to infectious diseases and emergency health responses. The U.S. contribution to the WHO has been a cornerstone for many health initiatives, and experts worry about how these programs might be affected by the loss of the U.S. support.
