The United States has officially stepped away from the World Health Organization (WHO), marking a significant shift that removes one of the agency's largest financial backers. This decision came after President Donald Trump signed an executive order a year prior, voicing concerns that the WHO was overly influenced by China during the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the withdrawal was prompted by accusations that the WHO mishandled the global health crisis, failed to implement necessary reforms, and allowed political pressures from member nations to interfere with its operations. In response, WHO has firmly rejected these allegations, with its Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, stating that the departure represents a loss not only for the United States but for the entire world.
The WHO highlighted its commitment to various global health initiatives, including the fight against polio and HIV/AIDS, efforts to reduce maternal mortality rates, and the implementation of international agreements aimed at controlling tobacco use.
In light of the pandemic, WHO member states have been collaborating to establish an international treaty designed to enhance preparedness for and responses to future pandemics. This treaty emphasizes equitable distribution of vaccines and treatments. Notably, all WHO member countries, except for the United States, reached an agreement on this treaty in April of the previous year.
Traditionally, the United States has been a major contributor to the WHO's funding. However, it has not fulfilled its financial obligations for the years 2024 and 2025, leading to substantial job losses within the organization. While WHO legal experts contend that the U.S. is still liable for approximately $260 million in outstanding dues, the U.S. government has expressed no intention to settle this debt.
The U.S. administration announced the termination of all funding directed toward the WHO, the recall of American personnel and contractors from the WHO's Geneva headquarters and its global offices, and the suspension of numerous partnerships between the U.S. and the WHO.
A joint statement released by U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy and Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticized the WHO, claiming the organization has strayed from its fundamental mission and acted contrary to U.S. interests. They specifically mentioned the failure to return the American flag displayed at the Geneva headquarters as emblematic of the organization's shortcomings.
Moving forward, the U.S. indicated that its engagement with the WHO would be strictly limited to facilitating its withdrawal and protecting the health and safety of Americans. The department stated it would seek to establish bilateral relationships with other nations to enhance disease surveillance and the sharing of pathogens, though details about these partnerships remain vague at this point.
In discussions regarding global initiatives against diseases like polio and HIV, U.S. officials mentioned potential collaborations with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and faith-based groups to sustain these efforts, but again, no specifics were provided.
When questioned about participation in the annual global influenza vaccine development and information sharing, officials were uncertain.
After Trump enacted the withdrawal order at the beginning of his second term, the WHO expressed hope that the United States might reconsider its position, underscoring that both the WHO and the U.S. have played vital roles in saving lives and safeguarding populations from health threats. They emphasized that a reconsideration would benefit the health and well-being of millions worldwide.
The pandemic responses of many nations, including the U.S. and the UK, have faced scrutiny for being slow and flawed. Many governments hesitated to impose lockdowns, concerned about public resistance to such measures. Research suggests that these delays significantly contributed to the virus's rapid spread.
The U.S. experienced one of the highest death rates globally, partly due to inconsistencies in following WHO guidance concerning mask-wearing and social distancing, according to Drew Altman, a former public health official in the U.S. In a 2020 article published in the BMJ, he criticized the federal administration, led by Trump at the time, for its lack of unified national guidance and for allowing COVID-19 policy to become politicized, resulting in divergent approaches between Democratic and Republican states regarding mask mandates and social distancing measures.
"The disappointing U.S. response to COVID-19 stems from a failure of policy and leadership," Altman stated.
Additionally, a research paper in the UN National Library of Medicine pointed out that the U.S. response to COVID-19 was marked by slowness and mismanagement under the Trump administration.
