The United States is set to officially exit the World Health Organization on Thursday, January 22, despite warnings that the move will hurt both U.S. and global health.
Critics also say the decision violates a U.S. law requiring Washington to pay the World Health Organization $260 million in unpaid fees.
President Donald Trump announced the U.S. would leave the organization on the first day of his presidency in 2025 through an executive order. U.S. law requires the country to give one year’s notice and pay all outstanding fees before departing.
A State Department spokesperson said the WHO’s failure to contain, manage, and share information has cost the U.S. trillions of dollars. The spokesperson added that the president has paused future transfers of any U.S. government funds, support, or resources to the WHO.
“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.
Global health experts have urged a reconsideration, including WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who said he hopes the U.S. will rejoin the WHO. “Withdrawing from the WHO is a loss for the United States, and it’s a loss for the rest of the world,” he said.
The WHO also stated that the U.S. has not paid the fees owed for 2024 and 2025. Member states are set to discuss the U.S. departure and how it will be handled at the WHO’s executive board in February.
“This is a clear violation of U.S. law,” said Lawrence Gostin, founding director of the O’Neill Institute for Global Health Law at Georgetown University. “But Trump is highly likely to get away with it.”
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 said, adding that the world needs the World Health Organization.
The departure has sparked a budget crisis at the WHO, which has cut its management team in half and reduced work across the agency. Washington has traditionally been the agency’s biggest financial backer, contributing around 18% of its funding. The WHO will also reduce its staff by about a quarter by mid-year.
The agency said it has worked with the U.S. and shared information over the last year, but it is unclear how collaboration will continue.
Global health experts warn that the U.S. withdrawal could weaken global systems and collaborations needed to detect, prevent, and respond to health threats.
