The United States has officially completed its withdrawal from the World Health Organisation, accusing the global health body of mishandling the COVID-19 pandemic and failing to implement key institutional reforms.
The White House confirmed the development on Thursday in a statement jointly issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of State.
According to the statement, the decision was based on what the U.S. described as WHO’s “failure to respond adequately to the COVID-19 outbreak,” as well as its inability to demonstrate independence from political influence by some member states.
“The organisation delayed declaring a global public health emergency and pandemic, costing the world critical time as the virus spread,” the statement said.
It also alleged that WHO leadership praised China’s response to the outbreak despite claims of early underreporting and delays in confirming human-to-human transmission.
U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., alongside Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, said the United States would now limit its engagement with WHO strictly to matters necessary to complete the withdrawal process.
“The United States will coordinate with the WHO only in a limited manner to effectuate an orderly exit,” the officials said.
The withdrawal process began on January 20, 2025, when President Donald Trump announced plans to pull the country out of the global health agency.
Over the following year, the U.S. halted its financial contributions, withdrew personnel, and redirected health initiatives previously carried out through WHO to bilateral and multilateral partnerships outside the organisation.
The White House also criticised WHO for downplaying the risks of asymptomatic transmission and failing to promptly acknowledge airborne spread of COVID-19. It further faulted the organisation for not pursuing reforms after the pandemic.
In addition, the U.S. questioned WHO’s report on the origins of COVID-19, noting that the agency ruled out the possibility of a laboratory-related incident despite China’s refusal to release early genetic data and detailed information about laboratory safety conditions in Wuhan.
WHO has confirmed that the United States owes approximately $260 million in unpaid membership fees for 2024 and 2025.
The organisation said member states would deliberate on the U.S. exit at its executive board meeting in February but acknowledged it had no authority to block the decision.
Reacting to the development, WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, expressed regret over the U.S. withdrawal.
“I hope the United States will reconsider its decision and rejoin WHO,” Tedros said. “This withdrawal is a loss for the U.S. and a loss for the world. Global health security depends not just on funding, but on cooperation and solidarity.”
Despite the exit, the White House stated that the United States would continue to play a leading role in global health through partnerships with other countries, non-governmental organisations, private sector actors, and faith-based groups.
It said future efforts would prioritise emergency preparedness, biosecurity coordination, and health innovation both within the U.S. and internationally
