The United States will officially withdraw from the World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday, January 22, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from global health experts and legal scholars.
President Donald Trump first announced the decision on his inauguration day in 2025 through an executive order. Under U.S. law, the country is required to give one year’s notice and settle all outstanding fees—estimated at $260 million—before departure.
Critics argue that Washington has failed to meet these obligations, making the exit a violation of U.S. law.
A State Department spokesperson defended the move, saying the WHO’s failure to contain and share information on global health threats has cost the U.S. trillions of dollars.
“The American people have paid more than enough to this organization, and this economic hit is beyond a down payment on any financial obligations to the organization,” the spokesperson said.
The administration has paused all future transfers of U.S. government funds, support, or resources to the WHO.
Global Reaction
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed regret, calling the withdrawal “a loss for the United States, and a loss for the rest of the world.”
Lawrence Gostin, founding director of the O’Neill Institute for Global Health Law at Georgetown University, described the move as “a clear violation of U.S. law,” but added that Trump is likely to proceed without consequence.
Bill Gates, chair of the Gates Foundation, said he does not expect the U.S. to reconsider in the short term. “I don’t think the U.S. will be coming back to WHO in the near future,” he noted.
The departure has triggered a budget crisis at the WHO. Washington has traditionally been its largest financial backer, contributing about 18% of the agency’s funding.
In response, the WHO has cut its management team in half and plans to reduce staff by about a quarter by mid-year.
Member states will meet in February to discuss how to handle the U.S. exit and the unpaid fees.
Global health experts say the withdrawal could weaken international systems designed to detect, prevent, and respond to health threats.
The WHO said it has worked closely with the U.S. over the past year, but future collaboration remains uncertain.
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