President Donald Trump has announced the United States will formally exit the World Health Organization (WHO). The decision, unveiled shortly after his inauguration for a second term, comes with accusations that the WHO has failed to act independently and has subjected the U.S. to “unfairly onerous payments” compared to contributions from other nations like China.
“World Health ripped us off; everybody rips off the United States. It’s not going to happen anymore,” Trump declared during the signing of an executive order formalizing the withdrawal. This decision marks the continuation of Trump’s criticism of the WHO, a stance he adopted in 2020 when he first attempted to sever U.S. ties with the global health agency.
The United States’ exit, slated to take effect within 12 months, will terminate all financial contributions to the organization, which currently depend heavily on U.S. funding. The U.S. has historically been the WHO’s largest financial backer, providing nearly 18% of its $6.8 billion 2024–2025 budget. This abrupt withdrawal is expected to jeopardize critical WHO programs addressing global health challenges like tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and other emergencies.
Trump has also ordered the cessation of negotiations on the WHO pandemic treaty and the reassignment of U.S. personnel working within the organization. Additionally, the administration plans to review and replace the 2024 U.S. Global Health Security Strategy to reflect this shift in international health engagement.
The withdrawal, while dramatic, is not without precedent. In 2020, Trump suspended U.S. contributions to the WHO, alleging that it was complicit in China’s efforts to mislead the world about the origins of COVID-19. The WHO has repeatedly denied these allegations and continues to advocate for transparency regarding the pandemic’s origins.
Critics fear this move could severely undermine global health initiatives. WHO’s second-largest donor, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, contributes primarily to polio eradication, while nations like Germany contribute just 3% of the agency’s funding. Without U.S. support, programs targeting the world’s leading infectious disease killers and future health crises could face severe disruptions.
This decision reopens the global debate about the role of multilateral organizations in public health and the balance between sovereignty and global cooperation. As the one-year withdrawal process begins, the health community braces for its potential ramifications.
