The United States has formally ended its membership of the World Health Organization, removing one of the UN agency’s largest sources of funding. The decision follows an executive order signed by President Donald Trump a year ago, in which he accused the WHO of favouring China during the Covid-19 crisis and failing to carry out meaningful reform.
Washington said the move was driven by what it described as poor handling of the pandemic, excessive political influence within the organisation and resistance to change. All US government funding has now been stopped, staff have been withdrawn from WHO offices worldwide, and cooperation across hundreds of programmes has been halted. The US has also refused to pay outstanding membership fees, estimated at around $260m.
The WHO strongly disputes the accusations. Director general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the withdrawal harms both the US and global public health, highlighting the organisation’s work on polio eradication, HIV and Aids treatment, maternal health and tobacco control. He also pointed to the recently agreed international pandemic treaty, designed to improve preparedness and fair access to vaccines, which the US declined to join.
US officials say future health cooperation will take place through bilateral agreements, NGOs and faith-based groups, although details remain unclear. Public health experts warn the move could weaken global disease surveillance and preparedness. The issue will be discussed at the WHO’s executive board meeting in early February.
