%20logo%20and%20U.S.%20flag.jpg "World Health Organization (WHO) logo and U.S. flag")
President Donald Trump issued notice by executive order on the first day of his 2025 presidency, and U.S. health and state departments said Washington will limit cooperation with WHO while pursuing direct partnerships with other countries on disease surveillance and health priorities. A senior U.S. health official told Reuters: “We have no plans to participate as an observer, and we have no plans of rejoining.”
U.S. law calls for one year’s notice and payment of outstanding dues, around $260 million, before a member state departs. A State Department official disputed that payment must precede withdrawal, saying “the American people have paid more than enough.” The Department of Health and Human Services said the administration had ended funding transfers and paused future contributions, arguing the WHO had cost the U.S. trillions.
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Witnesses reported the U.S. flag removed from WHO headquarters in Geneva. The agency, historically the largest single national contributor at roughly 18% of its budget, has already cut management posts, reduced budgets across programs and plans to shed about a quarter of staff by mid-year, creating an immediate financial and staffing shortfall.
Legal and health experts warned the departure threatens global surveillance and outbreak response. Lawrence Gostin of Georgetown called the move “a clear violation of U.S. law,” while Bill Gates said he did not expect a short-term reversal but would continue to advocate reengagement. Public-health figures cautioned that losing U.S. funding and formal ties could weaken systems used to detect and respond to health threats.
WHO said the U.S. had not paid fees for 2024 and 2025; member states will discuss the departure at the agency’s executive board in February. The agency and governments must now decide how to preserve international surveillance, data sharing and coordinated responses without traditional U.S. participation.
Witnesses reported the U.S. flag removed from WHO headquarters in Geneva. The agency, historically the largest single national contributor at roughly 18% of its budget, has already cut management posts, reduced budgets across programs and plans to shed about a quarter of staff by mid-year, creating an immediate financial and staffing shortfall.
Legal and health experts warned the departure threatens global surveillance and outbreak response. Lawrence Gostin of Georgetown called the move “a clear violation of U.S. law,” while Bill Gates said he did not expect a short-term reversal but would continue to advocate reengagement. Public-health figures cautioned that losing U.S. funding and formal ties could weaken systems used to detect and respond to health threats.
WHO said the U.S. had not paid fees for 2024 and 2025; member states will discuss the departure at the agency’s executive board in February. The agency and governments must now decide how to preserve international surveillance, data sharing and coordinated responses without traditional U.S. participation.
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