U.S. Finalizes WHO Withdrawal

The United States officially completed its withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO) on January 23, 2026, a year after the initial announcement by then-President Donald Trump. This move, as reported by www.theintelligencer.net, marked a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy regarding global health.

President Trump had initiated the withdrawal process in July 2020, citing concerns over the organization's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and alleged pro-China bias. According to a statement from the White House at the time, the administration believed the WHO had failed in its fundamental duties.

The decision drew widespread criticism from global health experts and international allies who warned of severe consequences for public health. The New York Times reported that many feared it would undermine international efforts to combat diseases and future pandemics.

Critics, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, then director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, expressed concerns that the withdrawal would leave the U.S. without crucial data for early pandemic warnings. CNN noted that this could significantly hamper the nation's ability to protect its own citizens.

Despite the official withdrawal, the U.S. reportedly still owed over $130 million to the global health agency, as stated by www.theintelligencer.net. This outstanding financial obligation highlighted the complex nature of disengaging from such a pivotal international body.

However, the U.S. stance on the WHO quickly reversed with the change in presidential administration. President Joe Biden, on his first day in office in January 2021, signed an executive order to halt the withdrawal process and rejoin the organization, as confirmed by Reuters.

This re-engagement underscored a renewed commitment to multilateralism and global health cooperation. The Biden administration emphasized the importance of working with international partners to address shared health threats, according to statements from the State Department.

• Background and Timeline of Withdrawal: The formal process for the U.S. withdrawal from the WHO began on July 6, 2020, when the Trump administration submitted its notification to the United Nations. This action, as reported by The Washington Post, triggered a one-year notice period, leading to the official completion of the withdrawal on January 23, 2026, according to the provided article. The decision came amidst the escalating global COVID-19 pandemic, intensifying debates over international cooperation.

• Trump Administration's Rationale: Former President Donald Trump and his administration accused the WHO of being overly influenced by China and of mismanaging the initial response to the COVID-19 outbreak. According to statements reported by Fox News, Trump alleged that the WHO had failed to provide accurate information and had been too slow to declare a global health emergency, thereby contributing to the pandemic's spread.

• International and Expert Condemnation: The U.S. withdrawal was met with widespread condemnation from international leaders, public health experts, and U.S. allies. The European Union, as reported by the BBC, expressed deep regret, emphasizing the critical need for global solidarity during a pandemic. Public health officials, including those from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), warned that abandoning the WHO would weaken global health security and hinder coordinated responses to future health crises.

• Financial Implications and U.S. Contributions: The United States had historically been the largest financial contributor to the WHO, providing hundreds of millions of dollars annually in assessed and voluntary contributions. A report by the Kaiser Family Foundation indicated that the U.S. contributions often accounted for over 20% of the WHO's total budget. The article notes that the U.S. still reportedly owed over $130 million, highlighting the significant financial void left by the withdrawal.

• Biden Administration's Reversal and Re-engagement: On January 20, 2021, his very first day in office, President Joe Biden signed an executive order to reverse the U.S. withdrawal from the WHO. As confirmed by CNN, this move signaled a clear shift towards re-embracing multilateralism and international cooperation in global health. Dr. Anthony Fauci, representing the U.S. at a WHO executive board meeting shortly after, affirmed the nation's commitment to working with the organization.

• Impact on U.S. Public Health and Data Access: Public health experts, as noted by The New York Times, consistently warned that withdrawing from the WHO would isolate the U.S. from crucial global disease surveillance systems and data sharing networks. This isolation could severely impair the U.S.'s ability to detect and respond to emerging infectious diseases, potentially leaving the nation vulnerable to future pandemics without vital early warnings and collaborative research.

• Future of U.S.-WHO Relationship and Reforms: Following its re-engagement, the Biden administration has actively participated in discussions aimed at reforming the WHO to enhance its transparency, accountability, and pandemic preparedness capabilities. According to statements from the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. seeks to strengthen the organization's ability to prevent, detect, and respond to health emergencies more effectively, ensuring it is fit for purpose in the 21st century.