The United States is scheduled to officially withdraw from the World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday, January 22, a move that has sparked widespread concern among global health experts and policymakers.
President Donald Trump announced the decision on the first day of his presidency in 2025 through an executive order, reviving a long-standing criticism of the global health body. However, critics argue that the withdrawal violates U.S. law, which requires Washington to give one year’s notice and settle all outstanding financial obligations before leaving. The WHO has stated that the U.S. still owes approximately $260 million in unpaid fees for 2024 and 2025.
A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department defended the decision, accusing the WHO of failing to adequately contain, manage, and share information during major global health crises. According to the spokesperson, these failures have cost the United States trillions of dollars. The administration has also paused all future transfers of U.S. government funds, support, or resources to the organization.
“The American people have paid more than enough to this organization, and this economic hit is beyond a down payment on any financial obligations to the organization,” the spokesperson said.
Global health leaders have urged the U.S. to reconsider. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the withdrawal as a loss not just for the United States, but for the world at large.
“Withdrawing from the WHO is a loss for the United States, and it’s a loss for the rest of the world,” he said, expressing hope that the country would eventually rejoin.
Legal experts have also weighed in. Lawrence Gostin, founding director of the O’Neill Institute for Global Health Law at Georgetown University, described the move as a “clear violation of U.S. law,” though he noted that the administration is unlikely to face consequences.
Bill Gates, chair of the Gates Foundation, said he does not expect the U.S. to reverse its decision anytime soon. “I don’t think the U.S. will be coming back to WHO in the near future,” he said, while stressing that the world still needs the organization.
The U.S. departure has triggered a significant budget crisis at the WHO. As Washington has traditionally contributed about 18% of the agency’s funding, the organization has been forced to cut its management team in half, scale back operations, and reduce its workforce by roughly 25% by mid-year.
Although the WHO says it has continued to share information and collaborate with the U.S. over the past year, it remains unclear how future cooperation will function once the withdrawal is finalized. Member states are expected to discuss the U.S. exit and its implications at the WHO’s executive board meeting in February.
Global health experts warn that the decision could weaken international systems designed to detect, prevent, and respond to health threats, potentially leaving the world more vulnerable to future crises.