The U.S. is due to officially leave the World Health Organization, raising legal concerns and warnings about the global health impact of its withdrawal.
WASHINGTON, D.C.: The United States is expected to formally exit the World Health Organization on Thursday, following a withdrawal process initiated by President Donald Trump on the first day of his presidency in 2025. The move has triggered sharp warnings from global health experts, legal scholars and international institutions.
Under U.S. law, the country must give a one-year notice and settle all outstanding dues before officially withdrawing. However, the U.S. has not paid its arrears, which amount to US$260 million. Experts say this could constitute a violation of domestic law, although the administration appears set to proceed.
A U.S. State Department spokesperson said the decision follows WHO’s alleged failure to manage and share health information effectively. “The American people have paid more than enough to this organization,” the spokesperson said, adding that the U.S. had paused future transfers of funds, resources, or support.
The World Health Organization confirmed it has not yet received the U.S. dues for 2024 and 2025. The agency will discuss the departure at its executive board meeting in February, while grappling with an ongoing budget crisis. U.S. funding previously covered around 18 percent of the agency’s budget, and its expected exit has led to workforce cuts and scaled-back operations.
WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has urged the U.S. to reconsider. “Withdrawing from the WHO is a loss for the United States and a loss for the rest of the world,” he said earlier this month.
Global health figures, including Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Kelly Henning, warned that the U.S. departure could weaken international efforts to prevent and respond to health threats. Bill Gates, speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, said he did not expect the U.S. to rejoin the organisation in the near future but would continue advocating for its return.
The WHO has been working with U.S. agencies over the past year and has not confirmed how coordination will continue if the exit is finalised.
