MONITORING (SW) – The United States is set to officially withdraw from the World Health Organization (WHO) in January 2026 after the UN body received a formal letter from US President Donald Trump this week.
UN deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq said on Thursday that the withdrawal was now set in motion after Trump pledged on Monday – his first day in office – to withdraw the US from the WHO and to put an end to future funding of the organization.
“I can confirm we have now received the US letter on the WHO withdrawal. It is dated 22 January 2025. It would take effect a year from yesterday, on 22 January 2026,” Haq said.
Trump also ordered Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the director of the US government’s Office of Management and Budget to “pause the future transfer of any United States Government funds, supports, or resources to the WHO”.
Washington has recalled all US government personnel working with the WHO and ordered them to cease participating in negotiations on a WHO-led global treaty on dealing with pandemics.
The US contributes about 18 per cent of the organization’s funding, which amounted to about $261m between 2024 and 2025. That contribution is followed in second place by China at $181m, Al Jazeera reported. The WHO’s loss of its top donor will impact the global health agency’s ability to address major crises from tuberculosis to HIV/AIDS and global pandemics, according to experts.
Trump had accused the WHO of mishandling the COVID-19 pandemic during his first term in office and had sent a request to withdraw from the organization in July 2020.
On Tuesday, the WHO issued a statement saying it regretted the announced departure of the US and pointed out that its work “plays a crucial role in protecting the health and security of the world’s people, including Americans”.
“We hope the United States will reconsider and we look forward to engaging in constructive dialogue to maintain the partnership between the USA and WHO, for the benefit of the health and wellbeing of millions of people around the globe,” the WHO said.
