United Nations
Reuters
The United States will leave the World Health Organization on 22nd January, 2026, the United Nations said on Thursday, after being formally notified of the decision by President Donald Trump, who has accused the agency of mishandling the pandemic and other international health crises.
Trump announced the move on Monday, hours after he was sworn in for a second four-year term. The WHO said on Tuesday that it regretted the move from its top donor country.
Medical aid shipment from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN refugee agency, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) arrives at the Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport, in Beirut, Lebanon, on 4th October, 2024. PICTURE: Reuters/Louisa Gouliamaki/File photo
Trump must give a one-year notice of US withdrawal from the Geneva-based body and pay Washington’s dues under a 1948 joint resolution of the US Congress.
The United States is by far the WHO’s biggest financial backer, contributing around 18 per cent of its overall funding. WHO’s most recent two-year budget, for 2024-2025, was $US6.8 billion. It was not immediately clear how much the US owes.
“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,” said deputy UN spokesperson Farhan Haq.
The US departure will likely put at risk programs across the organisation, according to several experts inside and outside the WHO, notably those tackling tuberculosis, the world’s biggest infectious disease killer, as well as HIV/AIDS and other health emergencies.
The withdrawal order signed by Trump said the administration would cease negotiations on the WHO pandemic treaty while the withdrawal is in progress. US Government personnel working with the WHO will be recalled and reassigned, and the government will look for partners to take over necessary WHO activities, according to the order.
Trump’s withdrawal from the WHO was not unexpected. He took steps to quit the body in 2020 during his first term as president. Before the US withdrawal could be completed last time, Joe Biden won the presidential election and put a stop to it on his first day in office on 20th January, 2021.
Meanwhile, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said on Thursday that the US plan to withdraw from the World Health Organization will squeeze Africa’s health initiatives and called on African countries to find alternative sources of financing.
The concerns raised by Africa’s leading public health officials are a sign of the potential impact of the US decision on the UN agency’s ability to fight diseases and respond to emergencies round the globe without its biggest funder.
Africa CDC senior official Ngashi Ngongo said many countries had been relying on US investment via the WHO to fund public health drives.
“We know the role that the WHO has played on the continent…to really improve the delivery of health programmes,” Ngongo told a media briefing.
“The reduction or the cutting of [US] funding is definitely going to affect the response.
“It is time for some of the African member states to rethink the financing of public health.”
We rely on our readers to fund Sight's work - become a financial supporter today!
For more information, head to our Subscriber's page.
Zimbabwe’s finance minister on Wednesday expressed concern that the US withdrawal could signal cuts in health aid to countries such as his that are most affected by HIV/AIDS.
Ngongo said once Africa CDC takes stock of the situation, it might explore funding opportunities with other non-African countries to compensate for the expected fall in WHO support.
While Ngongo does not expect Trump’s order to have a big impact on Africa CDC, he expressed concern a joint action plan the health body had been developing with the US Government over the past year could also now be at risk.
– With ANAIT MIRIDZHANIAN