NEW YORK (Web Desk) – The United States is set to formally exit the World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday, raising concerns over both domestic and global health, and potentially violating a US law requiring the country to pay $260 million in outstanding fees to the agency.
President Donald Trump first announced the US withdrawal on the first day of his 2025 presidency through an executive order. US law requires a one-year notice and full payment of any owed contributions before departure.
A State Department spokesperson said the WHO’s “failure to manage, contain, and share information” had cost the US trillions of dollars. The spokesperson added that the president had used his authority to halt future US funding or support for the organization.
Global health experts, including WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, have urged Washington to reconsider. “Withdrawing from the WHO is a loss for the United States, and a loss for the rest of the world,” Tedros said.
The WHO confirmed that the US has yet to pay its dues for 2024 and 2025. Member states will discuss the exit and its implications at the WHO Executive Board meeting in February. Experts say the move violates US law, though enforcement is uncertain.
Bill Gates, chair of the Gates Foundation, said he does not expect a near-term return. “The world needs the World Health Organization,” he said, emphasizing the importance of global health collaboration.
The US withdrawal has already triggered a budget crisis at the WHO, forcing it to reduce its management team by half, cut programs, and plan to shed roughly a quarter of its staff by mid-2026. Washington has traditionally been the WHO’s largest contributor, providing about 18% of its funding.
Experts warn that the US exit could weaken international systems for detecting and responding to health threats, posing risks for global and domestic health alike.