- US officially withdraws from WHO after Trump’s letter, effective January 2026.
- WHO loses its top financial contributor, with US funding at 18% of the budget.
- Legal challenges may arise over Trump’s unilateral withdrawal decision.
The United States is set to officially withdraw from the World Health Organization (WHO) in January 2026, following a formal letter received by the UN body from President Donald Trump this week.
EKO HOT BLOG gathered that UN deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq confirmed on Thursday that the withdrawal process had begun after Trump’s pledge on his first day in office, January 22, 2025, to pull the US out of the WHO and halt future funding.
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“The letter from the US was received, dated January 22, 2025, and the withdrawal will take effect a year from yesterday, on January 22, 2026,” Haq said.
Trump also instructed Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the US Office of Management and Budget to suspend all future transfers of US government resources to the WHO. The US has recalled all personnel working with the WHO and instructed them to cease participating in negotiations for a global pandemic treaty led by the organization.
The US’s departure will cost the WHO its largest financial contributor, as the US provides around 18% of its funding, approximately $261 million for 2024-2025. This loss, followed by China’s contribution of $181 million, will impact the WHO’s ability to tackle global health issues such as tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and pandemics.
Trump’s previous attempt to withdraw from the WHO in 2020 over the organization’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic was blocked after he lost the presidential election to Joe Biden, who reversed the decision. Health experts have criticized Trump’s management of the pandemic, which resulted in hundreds of thousands of American deaths.
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In response to the US’s withdrawal, the WHO expressed regret, emphasizing its critical role in safeguarding global health, including for Americans, and called for continued dialogue to maintain a partnership.
The US joined the WHO in 1948 through joint Congressional resolutions, raising questions about whether Trump can unilaterally withdraw without Congressional approval. Legal experts, including Jean Galbraith and Lawrence Gostin, argue that such a decision requires Congressional backing and could face court challenges.
