US Withdrawal From WHO Takes Effect After One-Year Notice Period
The withdrawal of the United States from the World Health Organisation (WHO) officially takes effect today, exactly one year after President Donald Trump ordered the country to exit the Geneva-based United Nations health agency just hours after returning to office.
Under the terms of the agreement governing US membership, Washington was required to provide a one-year notice before the withdrawal could be finalised. That notice period elapsed on Thursday, formally ending the United States’ participation in the organisation, despite unresolved issues surrounding unpaid financial contributions.
Although one of the conditions for withdrawal stipulates that all outstanding financial obligations must be settled, the US failed to fully meet this requirement. According to available figures, Washington did not pay its assessed and voluntary contributions for 2024 and 2025, amounting to approximately $280 million. However, the WHO lacks any enforcement mechanism to compel payment or to block the withdrawal on those grounds.
Reacting to the development, WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus expressed regret and urged the United States to reconsider its decision. Speaking in Geneva, he warned that the move would have consequences not just for the US, but for global public health cooperation as a whole.
“I hope that the US will reconsider its decision and rejoin WHO,” Ghebreyesus said, adding that “everyone loses” as a result of the withdrawal. He stressed that the issue goes beyond finances, describing it as a setback for cooperation, solidarity, and collective preparedness in the face of global health threats.
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For decades, the United States was the WHO’s largest single contributor, consistently paying far more than its mandatory membership dues through voluntary contributions. In some years, US funding accounted for over 15 per cent of the organisation’s total budget, supporting programmes ranging from disease surveillance and emergency response to vaccine research and health system strengthening in low- and middle-income countries.
With the US now formally out of the organisation, the WHO has been forced to implement a strict austerity programme. By mid-2026, staff numbers are expected to decline by about 20 per cent, falling to roughly 7,300 employees compared to early 2025. The organisation’s overall budget has also been cut by a similar proportion, raising concerns about its capacity to respond effectively to future global health emergencies.
Beyond funding, health experts have highlighted the loss of US technical expertise and institutional capacity. The WHO operates early warning systems designed to detect outbreaks of potentially dangerous diseases, as well as global surveillance networks that track emerging health threats. The organisation also plays a central role in coordinating the composition of seasonal influenza vaccines, drawing on pathogen data from around the world.
With its withdrawal, the United States is no longer participating in these activities, meaning global health initiatives will proceed without direct US input, data, and scientific collaboration. Observers say this could weaken global preparedness at a time when the risk of pandemics, antimicrobial resistance, and climate-related health crises remains high.
President Trump’s strained relationship with the WHO dates back to the COVID-19 pandemic. During his first term, he repeatedly accused the organisation of mismanaging the crisis, misusing funds, and being overly influenced by China. In 2020, he initiated a withdrawal process, but the move was reversed before completion when his successor, Joe Biden, took office and restored US membership.
Following his return to the White House, Trump revived the withdrawal order and halted further payments to the organisation. He has consistently argued that the WHO failed in its duty during the pandemic and that continued US participation was not in America’s interest.
The decision has sparked mixed reactions globally. Critics warn that the move isolates the US and undermines multilateral cooperation on health issues that transcend national borders. Supporters, however, argue that the US is asserting its sovereignty and reducing involvement in international institutions they view as ineffective or politically compromised.
As the withdrawal takes effect, attention now turns to how the WHO will adapt to the loss of its largest historical donor, and whether other countries will step up to fill the funding and leadership gap left by the United States.