The United States has officially withdrawn from the World Health Organization (WHO) following an executive order signed last year by former President Donald Trump. This decision ends U.S. participation in one of the WHO’s most important global health partnerships and has raised concerns about the future of international health funding and cooperation.
In July 2020, months after the WHO declared COVID-19 a global pandemic, President Trump announced plans for the U.S. to leave the organization. However, the withdrawal did not take effect due to the WHO’s one-year notice requirement and was later reversed by President Joe Biden in 2021. Trump had long criticized the WHO, accusing it of being overly “China-centric” in its handling of the pandemic.
This time, the withdrawal has become official, severing one of WHO’s largest funding relationships. The U.S. has historically contributed hundreds of millions of dollars annually, and was projected to provide nearly $1 billion for the 2024–2025 budget cycle, about 14 percent of the organization’s $6.9 billion budget. Experts warn that this loss could severely weaken key health programs, including polio eradication, maternal and child health initiatives, and tuberculosis work in Europe, Africa, and the Western Pacific.
Since the executive order took effect, the WHO has struggled to use U.S. funds for previously approved projects, with many efforts delayed or unsuccessful. Washington has not paid its assessed contributions for 2024 and 2025, leading to widespread job losses within the organisation. While WHO legal advisers argue that the U.S. still owes arrears estimated at $260 million (£193 million), American authorities reject this claim, stating that all funding has ended, personnel have been recalled, and hundreds of official engagements have been suspended.
The U.S. exit is expected to have far-reaching consequences for developing countries, particularly in Africa, where governments are already reassessing health and education programs amid cuts to USAID support. For instance, Ghana had anticipated receiving over $150 million in funding last year. Experts warn that the withdrawal could reduce opportunities for alternative health financing, placing additional strain on already fragile health systems across the continent.
