Washington: The United States formally withdrew from the World Health Organization (WHO) with immediate effect after having issued a year-long notice on January 22, 2025, thereby severing nearly 80 years of membership.
President Donald Trump’s administration cited WHO’s COVID-19 “mismanagement”, alleged favouritism towards China, and its failure to uphold independence as key reasons for halting all future funding and recalling US personnel.
The decision is a body blow to the WHO, which is set to lose its largest donor. The US contributed 18% of WHO’s budget — around $260-261 — for 2024-2025.
Already facing severe cuts on several fronts, WHO anticipates slashing of 25% of its workforce by mid-year, restricting operations on tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, Ebola surveillance, and pandemic preparedness.
Experts have warned of weakened global early-warning systems, flu vaccine matching, and responses to emerging threats, potentially ceding influence to rivals like China — the second-largest funder at $181 million.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed “deep regret,” urging the Trump administration to reconsider its decision while underling US collaboration’s irreplaceability for global health security.
Public health leaders decried the decision as “shortsighted” and “reckless”.
Infectious Diseases Society of America president Ronald Nahass emphasised that “germs do not respect borders.”
UN officials highlighted risks to multilateral health efforts amid ongoing treaty negotiations on pandemics.
European nations voiced dismay over fragmented coordination, while China positioned itself to fill the vacuum. Critics, including former WHO advisors, decried lost US leverage on reforms but stressed on opportunities for agency overhaul.
Domestically, US health experts pointed out that isolation would hamper surveillance and vaccine access.
