America quits the WHO after 77 years

Overview

The United States joined the World Health Organization on June 14, 1948, three years after helping design it. On January 22, 2026, the U.S. became the first country to complete a withdrawal from the agency—walking away from 77 years of leadership in global health. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. jointly announced the withdrawal's completion, citing the WHO's 'failures during the COVID-19 pandemic' and its inability to demonstrate independence from 'inappropriate political influence.' The U.S. departed without paying between $130 million and $278 million in disputed dues, with the administration asserting no obligation to pay prior to exit.

In This Story

3 Videos

7 People

3 Orgs

15 Events

4 Key Stats

4 Scenarios

U.S. Remains Outside WHO for Duration of Trump Term

3 Context

U.S. Withdrawal from UNESCO (1984-2003)

Key Indicators

Years of US Membership

The U.S. was a founding member of WHO in 1948 and served as its largest funder for decades

$130-278M

Unpaid Dues (Disputed)

WHO claims $278M owed for 2024-2025; U.S. State Department acknowledges $130M but denies obligation to pay

18%

WHO Budget from US

Share of WHO's total funding that came from U.S. assessed and voluntary contributions

25%

WHO Staff Cuts

Proportion of WHO workforce expected to be laid off by mid-2026 following U.S. exit

Interactive

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Debate Arena

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People Involved

Donald Trump

Serving second term; initiated withdrawal on first day in office

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus

Leading WHO through budget crisis; term runs through 2027

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Leading HHS; overseeing health agency restructuring

Lawrence O. Gostin

Leading academic critic of withdrawal; attempted to broker rapprochement

Bill Gates

Major global health philanthropist; critical of aid cuts

Marco Rubio

Serving in Trump's second-term cabinet; co-announced WHO withdrawal completion

Gavin Newsom

Leading state-level WHO engagement independent of federal withdrawal

Organizations Involved

World Health Organization (WHO)

International Organization

Lost largest national funder; implementing 25% workforce reduction; secured 75% of 2026-2027 budget from remaining members with 20% fee increase

The UN's global health coordinating body, with 194 member states (now 193), responsible for disease surveillance, outbreak response, and setting international health standards.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

U.S. Federal Agency

Lost 25% of staff in 2025; facing proposed 53% budget cut for FY2026

America's primary public health agency, responsible for disease surveillance, outbreak response, and health guidance.

United States Agency for International Development (USAID)

Former U.S. Federal Agency

Officially shut down July 1, 2025; merged into State Department

The former U.S. foreign assistance agency, responsible for humanitarian aid and development programs worldwide.

Timeline

Rubio and Kennedy Announce Withdrawal Complete
Political

Secretary of State Marco Rubio and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. issue joint statement declaring the U.S. withdrawal from WHO complete, citing the agency's 'failures during the COVID-19 pandemic' and political influence from hostile nations.
January 23rd, 2026
Gates Says U.S. Won't Rejoin 'In the Near Future'
Political

Speaking at Davos, Bill Gates tells Reuters he does not expect the U.S. to reconsider WHO membership in the short term, but pledges to continue advocating for rejoining, stating 'The world needs the World Health Organization.'
January 23rd, 2026
U.S. Officially Exits WHO
Legal

One year after formal notice, the U.S. withdrawal takes effect. The U.S. leaves without paying $278 million in assessed contributions for 2024-2025.
January 22nd, 2026
U.S. Withdraws from 66 International Organizations
Policy

Trump signs executive order withdrawing from 66 additional international bodies, extending the retreat from multilateral institutions.
January 7th, 2026
USAID Officially Shuts Down
Institutional

The 64-year-old foreign aid agency ceases operations; 97% of staff laid off, remaining functions merged into State Department.
July 1st, 2025
WHO Pandemic Treaty Adopted Without U.S.
International

After three years of negotiations, WHO's 193 remaining member states adopt the new pandemic treaty; the U.S., previously a key negotiator, is excluded.
May 20th, 2025
China Pledges $500M to WHO
Financial

At the World Health Assembly, China commits $500 million in voluntary contributions over five years, positioning itself to become WHO's largest national contributor.
May 1st, 2025
RFK Jr. Confirmed as HHS Secretary
Political

Senate confirms Robert F. Kennedy Jr. 52-48 to lead HHS, with Mitch McConnell the sole Republican voting no.
February 13th, 2025
Argentina Announces WHO Withdrawal
International

President Milei announces Argentina will also withdraw from WHO, citing 'deep differences' over COVID-19 management.
February 5th, 2025
WHO Receives Formal Notice
Legal

WHO acknowledges receipt of withdrawal notice, starting the one-year departure timeline required by U.S. law.
January 21st, 2025
Trump Signs Second Withdrawal Order
Legal

Hours after inauguration, Trump signs Executive Order 14155 directing withdrawal from WHO, halting all funding transfers, and recalling U.S. personnel.
January 20th, 2025
Biden Reverses Withdrawal
Policy

On his first day in office, Biden signs executive order halting withdrawal and restoring U.S. funding to WHO.
January 20th, 2021
First Withdrawal Notice Submitted
Legal

Trump administration formally notifies UN Secretary-General of intent to withdraw, starting one-year clock.
July 6th, 2020
Trump Halts WHO Funding During COVID
Policy

Trump announces freeze on U.S. contributions to WHO, accusing the agency of mismanaging the COVID-19 pandemic and favoring China.
April 14th, 2020
U.S. Joins WHO as Founding Member
Establishment

President Truman signs joint resolution making the U.S. a founding member of the World Health Organization, reserving the unique right to withdraw.
June 14th, 1948

Scenarios

U.S. Remains Outside WHO for Duration of Trump Term

Discussed by: Georgetown's Lawrence Gostin; Brown University's Beth Cameron; Foreign Affairs analysts

With no legal challenge filed and no congressional movement to block the withdrawal, the U.S. remains outside WHO through at least January 2029. China expands its influence as WHO's largest national contributor. The U.S. loses access to WHO surveillance networks and relies on bilateral agreements that experts say cannot replicate multilateral intelligence-sharing. A future administration could rejoin, as Biden did in 2021, but would need to pay accumulated dues and rebuild relationships.

Disease Outbreak Forces Emergency Re-Engagement

Discussed by: Jeremy Konyndyk (Refugees International); Nikki Romanik (Brown University); public health researchers

A novel pathogen emerges—potentially from the avian influenza strains already circulating in U.S. livestock—and spreads internationally. Without WHO membership, the U.S. receives delayed intelligence and faces barriers accessing internationally coordinated vaccine development. Domestic pressure forces emergency bilateral arrangements with WHO or ad-hoc participation in outbreak response, but without the institutional relationships built over decades.

WHO Member States Challenge Withdrawal Over Unpaid Dues

Discussed by: Legal scholars; WHO governance experts; Congressional Research Service

At the February 2026 Executive Board meeting or May World Health Assembly, member states formally dispute whether the U.S. withdrawal is valid given the unpaid $278 million. While U.S. law requires dues payment before departure, WHO's constitution lacks explicit withdrawal provisions. Member states could maintain the U.S. as technically a member in arrears, creating legal ambiguity but no practical change in U.S. participation.

Other Nations Follow U.S. and Argentina

Discussed by: European policy analysts; Health Policy Watch; Euronews

Hungary's Viktor Orbán and Italian right-wing politicians have publicly considered following the U.S. out of WHO. If additional withdrawals materialize, the agency faces compounding budget crises and potential institutional breakdown. However, most nations lack the special withdrawal provision the U.S. negotiated in 1948, making their exits legally complicated under the Vienna Convention's one-year notice requirement.

Historical Context

U.S. Withdrawal from UNESCO (1984-2003)

December 1984 – October 2003

What Happened

The Reagan administration withdrew from UNESCO in 1984, citing mismanagement, politicization, and perceived Soviet influence. The UK and Singapore followed. The U.S. remained outside for 19 years, during which UNESCO reformed its governance and the organization continued without its largest funder.

Outcome

Short Term

UNESCO lost approximately 25% of its budget. The organization scaled back programs but continued operating.

Long Term

The U.S. rejoined under George W. Bush in 2003, finding a reformed organization. Trump withdrew again in 2017; the U.S. rejoined under Biden in 2023, then withdrew once more in 2025.

Why It's Relevant Today

Demonstrates that U.S. withdrawal from international organizations can span decades and that agencies can survive without U.S. funding—but also that re-entry is possible when administrations change.

U.S. Rejection of the League of Nations (1919-1920)

November 1919 – March 1920

What Happened

Despite President Wilson's central role in designing the League of Nations, the Senate refused to ratify the Treaty of Versailles, blocking U.S. membership. Isolationist senators argued the League would entangle the U.S. in foreign conflicts.

Outcome

Short Term

The League launched in 1920 without its intended leader. The U.S. never joined.

Long Term

The League's inability to prevent World War II is partly attributed to U.S. absence. After 1945, the U.S. helped design the UN to avoid repeating the failure—including WHO.

Why It's Relevant Today

Illustrates how U.S. retreat from multilateral institutions it helped create can undermine those institutions' effectiveness and, ultimately, American interests.

WHO Response to 2014 Ebola Outbreak

March 2014 – June 2016

What Happened

Ebola spread across Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia, killing over 11,000 people. WHO faced criticism for slow initial response. The U.S. deployed 3,000 military personnel to West Africa and contributed over $2.4 billion to the response, ultimately playing a decisive role in containing the outbreak.

Outcome

Short Term

The outbreak was contained after 28 months. U.S. leadership was credited as essential to the response.

Long Term

WHO reformed its emergency response systems, creating the Health Emergencies Programme. The episode demonstrated U.S. capacity to mobilize global health responses.

Why It's Relevant Today

Shows what U.S. engagement with WHO accomplished—and what capabilities the U.S. is now stepping away from at a time when CDC is facing its own staffing cuts.