The United States completed its withdrawal from the World Health Organization on January 22, 2026, citing concerns about the organization’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, its failure to implement governance reforms, and its inability to demonstrate independence from political influence by member states, according to a joint statement from the US Department of Health and Human Services and the US Department of State. The action concluded a yearlong withdrawal process initiated after the Trump administration announced the United States' intent to leave the organization on January 20, 2025.
During the withdrawal period, the United States discontinued funding to the World Health Organization (WHO), removed all US personnel, and transitioned activities previously conducted through the organization to direct bilateral engagements with other countries and international partners. Federal officials stated that following the formal exit, the United States will engage with the WHO only to the extent necessary to carry out the withdrawal.
The announcement outlined several criticisms related to the early international response to the COVID-19 pandemic. US officials stated that delays in declaring a global public health emergency and subsequently a pandemic resulted in the loss of critical time during the initial spread of the virus. The statement further claimed that organizational leadership publicly praised China’s response despite evidence of early underreporting, suppression of information, and delays in confirming human-to-human transmission. Additional concerns included the WHO's downplaying of asymptomatic transmission and lack of prompt acknowledgment of airborne spread during the early stages of the pandemic.
Postpandemic, the statement said the organization didn't enact meaningful reforms to address political influence, governance weaknesses, or coordination challenges, which officials said contributed to diminished global trust. The US government also criticized the organization’s report on the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that the WHO rejected the possibility of laboratory involvement without full access to early genetic sequencing data and detailed information regarding laboratory activities and biosafety conditions in Wuhan, China.
Federal officials highlighted that the United States would continue to play a leading role in global public health through partnerships outside the WHO. Planned efforts include direct collaboration with other countries, nongovernmental organizations, private-sector partners, and faith-based entities—with a focus on emergency response, biosecurity coordination, and health innovation. Officials stated that these efforts are intended to prioritize US protection while providing benefits to international partners.
Source: CDC
