The United States is poised to officially withdraw from the World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday, marking a significant shift in its global health policy exactly one year after President Donald Trump signed the executive order for this withdrawal.
Trump announced the U.S. exit on his first day in office, but U.S. law requires a one-year notice period and the clearing of any outstanding dues prior to leaving. Current reports indicate that the U.S. has yet to settle nearly $260 million in fees owed for the years 2024 and 2025. The decision regarding the U.S. departure and its implications will be discussed at the WHO’s executive board meeting scheduled for February.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has made an appeal for the U.S. to reconsider its withdrawal. He emphasized that the exit would be detrimental not only to the United States but also to global health, describing it as a loss for both parties during a recent press briefing. “I hope the U.S. will reconsider and rejoin WHO,” he stated.
In May, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. articulated the rationale behind Trump’s decision to exit the WHO. He criticized the organization for becoming bogged down in bureaucracy and influenced by international politics, calling it a legacy institution struggling under its own weight.
Notably, Bill Gates, the chair of the Gates Foundation—which supports numerous global health initiatives aligned with WHO’s work—expressed skepticism about the immediate prospect of the U.S. reversing its decision. “I don’t think the U.S. will be coming back to WHO in the near future,” he remarked.
While Trump initiated the exit process in 2020, President Joe Biden’s administration took a different approach when he assumed office in 2021, reversing Trump’s withdrawal decision. As health officials and international bodies brace for the implications of the U.S. departure, further clarifications from the State Department and the White House regarding the settlement of outstanding fees and potential impacts on global health initiatives are awaited.
The shifting dynamics surrounding U.S. involvement in the WHO underline the complex interrelation between national policies and global health efforts, raising important questions about future collaborations in addressing worldwide health challenges.