U.S. officially exits WHO, raising global health concerns

The US has officially withdrawn from the World Health Organization on 22nd January, completing a year-long process initiated by President Trump on his first day in office in 2025. 

The withdrawal from the WHO ends the 78-year membership of the US with the health body that coordinates global disease records and crisis response.

According to the law, the U.S. was required to give one year’s notice and pay all outstanding dues before its exit from WHO, but it left behind around $260 million in unpaid dues. 

A spokesperson from the State Department defended the decision to exit the health body, accusing it of mishandling health emergencies and justifying the suspension of future funding.

However, General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director of WHO, warned that the exit would weaken both U.S. and international health awareness. Global health experts claimed that the exit will affect awareness of epidemics and vaccine development.

U.S being WHO’s largest funder for years and a key participant in policymaking and disease information sharing, marks a big shift in global health diplomacy by taking this major decision.