The United States has officially completed its withdrawal from the World Health Organization, marking a decisive and symbolic break from one of the world’s most influential public health institutions. The announcement was made Thursday by the Department of Health and Human Services, nearly one year after President Donald Trump signed an executive order initiating the departure on his first day back in office in 2025.
The Trump administration cited longstanding concerns over the WHO’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as what it described as structural inequities and political bias within the organization. In particular, officials pointed to what they called “onerous payments” by the United States that were disproportionate to its influence, noting that despite contributing as much as 25 percent of the WHO’s funding, the U.S. has never had a director lead the agency.
In a press release confirming the withdrawal, HHS sharply criticized the WHO’s early response to COVID-19. The agency stated that the WHO delayed declaring a global public health emergency and later a pandemic, costing the world “critical weeks” as the virus spread internationally. During that same period, U.S. officials argue, WHO leadership praised China’s response despite evidence of underreporting, suppressed information, and delays in confirming human-to-human transmission.
A senior HHS official emphasized that the withdrawal does not signal a retreat from global health leadership. Instead, the administration says it is shifting toward bilateral and multilateral partnerships outside the WHO framework. The official highlighted that in December 2025, the U.S. Department of State finalized multi-year Global Health Cooperation agreements with dozens of countries, with additional announcements expected in the coming months.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. reinforced the administration’s stance earlier this year during a prerecorded address to the World Health Assembly. In his remarks, Kennedy accused the WHO of becoming “mired in bureaucratic bloat, entrenched paradigms, conflicts of interest and international power politics.” He further alleged that while the U.S. has historically provided the bulk of the organization’s funding, countries such as China have exercised disproportionate influence over its operations.
“Not only has the WHO capitulated to political pressure from China,” Kennedy said, “it has failed to maintain an organization characterized by transparency and fair governance.” He added that the agency often appears to have forgotten its accountability to the citizens of its member states.
This is not the first time Trump has attempted to sever ties with the WHO. During his first administration in 2020, he initiated a withdrawal process that drew fierce criticism from Democrats and public health experts. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi famously labeled the move “true senselessness,” warning at the time that millions of lives could be put at risk.
With the withdrawal now finalized, the decision is likely to remain a flashpoint in debates over global cooperation, pandemic preparedness, and the role of international institutions in safeguarding public health.