The United States has formally completed its withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO), according to an announcement by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on Thursday.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on his first day in office in 2025 initiating the withdrawal, citing dissatisfaction with the WHO’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, its relationship with China, and what he described as unfair financial obligations.
One year later, HHS and the State Department confirmed that the withdrawal process is complete.
The United States had been a member of the WHO since its founding in 1948. The agency coordinates global public health efforts, including disease monitoring and outbreak response.
In a statement, HHS criticized the WHO for delaying its declaration of a global health emergency during the early stages of COVID-19 and for praising China’s response despite evidence of underreporting and suppressed information.
A senior HHS official said the United States would continue to play a leading role in global health through bilateral agreements with other countries, despite ending its membership.
The official also noted that although the U.S. had contributed up to 25 percent of the organization’s funding, it had never held its top leadership position.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has previously criticized the WHO for bureaucratic inefficiency, political influence, and lack of transparency, particularly regarding China’s role in the organization.
The withdrawal follows a similar attempt by Trump in 2020, which drew criticism from Democrats who warned that leaving the WHO could weaken global disease surveillance and pandemic preparedness.
The announcement comes as President Trump attends the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
