Published: January 26, 2026
MONROVIA — The World Health Organization says it “deeply regrets” the United States’ formal withdrawal from the agency, warning that the decision weakens global disease surveillance and makes the world—and the United States—less safe as health threats continue to rise.
U.S. federal officials confirmed Thursday that Washington has finalized its departure, completing a process announced a year ago by President Donald Trump and ending America’s 78-year membership in the organization.
WHO says the United States now owes about $280 million in unpaid contributions.
Public health experts warn the withdrawal could undermine global outbreak response, weaken early-warning systems for emerging pandemics and reduce U.S. access to international health intelligence used to track threats before they reach American borders.
Experts Warn of Surveillance Gaps
Lawrence Gostin, a global health law expert at Georgetown University, said the move could damage the world’s ability to respond to future outbreaks and weaken U.S. scientific and pharmaceutical collaboration.
U.S. officials have also acknowledged unresolved issues related to access to international health data and early-warning systems that support pandemic preparedness.
Trump Cites COVID-19, Reform Disputes
Trump initiated the withdrawal through Executive Order 14155, citing WHO’s handling of COVID-19 and what he called the agency’s failure to implement reforms, transparency and independence.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said the withdrawal ends official U.S. participation in WHO committees, governance structures and technical working groups, and includes the recall of U.S. personnel assigned to the organization.
WHO Rejects Political Influence Claims
In a statement posted Saturday, Jan. 24, WHO dismissed accusations that it compromised its independence or acted in bad faith toward the United States.
“The reverse is true,” WHO said, adding that it has sought to engage with the U.S. “in good faith” and with respect for sovereignty.
WHO said the U.S. withdrawal raises governance and legal issues that will be reviewed by the WHO Executive Board at its regular session beginning Feb. 2, and later by the World Health Assembly in May 2026.
Defense of Pandemic Response
Responding to claims that it failed during the pandemic, WHO said it acted quickly and provided guidance based on available evidence, recommending masks, vaccines and physical distancing while leaving decisions to sovereign governments.
“We supported sovereign governments to make decisions they believed were in the best interests of their people,” WHO said.
WHO said it alerted the world after reports of unexplained pneumonia cases in Wuhan, China, and later declared COVID-19 a public health emergency of international concern on Jan. 30, 2020, calling it the highest alert under international health law.
Future Without the U.S.
WHO said it will continue working with its remaining member states and pointed to ongoing reforms and new frameworks aimed at strengthening pandemic preparedness, including the recently adopted WHO Pandemic Agreement and negotiations on a pathogen access and benefit-sharing system.
“We hope that in the future, the United States will return to active participation in WHO,” the organization said.
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