The United States will leave World Health Organization on January 22, 2026, the United Nations said on Thursday, after being officially informed of the US president’s decision. Donald Trumpwho accused the agency of mishandling the pandemic and other international health crises.
Trump announced the move Monday, hours after he was sworn in for a second four-year term. The WHO said on Tuesday it regretted the decision of its main donor country.
Trump must give a year’s notice of the United States’ withdrawal from the Geneva-based body and pay Washington’s dues under a 1948 joint resolution of the U.S. Congress.
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The United States is by far the WHO’s largest donor, contributing about 18 percent of its overall funding. WHO’s most recent biennial budget, for 2024-2025, was $6.8 billion. It was not immediately clear how much the United States owed.
“I can confirm that we have now received the letter from the United States regarding the WHO withdrawal. It is dated January 22, 2025. It would come into force one year from yesterday, January 22, 2026,” said UN deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq.
The U.S. departure will likely endanger programs across the organization, according to several experts inside and outside the WHO, including those fighting tuberculosis, the world’s largest disease. world’s deadly infectious disease, as well as against HIV/AIDS and other health emergencies.
The withdrawal order signed by Trump says the administration will cease negotiations on the WHO pandemic treaty while the withdrawal is underway. U.S. government personnel working with WHO will be recalled and reassigned, and the government will seek partners to take over necessary WHO activities, according to the order.
Trump’s withdrawal from the WHO was not unexpected. He took steps to leave the body in 2020, during his first term as president. Before the US withdrawal could be completed last time, Joe Biden won the presidential election and ended it on his first day in office on January 20, 2021.