US leaves WHO with $260 million overdue dues
One year after President Donald Trump ordered the US to withdraw from the World Health Organisation, the process was formally completed Thursday. However, the nation is departing with an outstanding debt of approximately $260 million. The Department of Health and Human Services announced on Thursday that all funding to the health agency has been terminated, and personnel working with the WHO have been recalled from all offices and its headquarters. The United States has also concluded its involvement in WHO-sponsored leadership bodies and working groups. On the first day of his second term, Trump signed the order to withdraw from the WHO, accusing the organization of mishandling the Covid pandemic, failing to implement necessary reforms, and lacking independence from “inappropriate political influence.” The United States is required to give a one-year notice and settle any outstanding debts before departing from the organization, as confirmed by the WHO and outlined in a 1948 Congressional resolution. A senior HHS official stated, “there’s no requirement in statute to settle the debt before exiting the agency.” The debt amounts to approximately $260 million, as reported by the WHO in January 2025.
“It’s a very messy divorce,” stated Lawrence Gostin. The withdrawal notice resulted in the health organisation losing its primary donor. From 2022 to 2023, the US provided nearly $1.3 billion to the WHO. Without the funding, the agency’s efforts to combat diseases such as HIV, polio, and Ebola are jeopardized. “Withdrawing from the World Health Organisation is scientifically reckless,” stated Ronald Nahass. “Without the organisation’s influenza response and data tracking, the US will be less prepared to match future vaccines to circulating strains,” he said. The WHO is scheduled to hold its biannual flu vaccine meeting in February. A senior HHS official stated that there are ongoing conversations to ascertain the US involvement in the discussions. Following Trump’s signing of the executive order, the European Union urged the United States to reconsider its stance and called on its members to strengthen their commitments. The World Health Organization comprises 193 other member states. Argentina has also declared its intention to exit the organization.
The WHO is poised to deliberate on legal avenues regarding the US debt during its forthcoming assembly meeting in May. However, Gostin noted that the WHO lacks any enforcement power. The organization might assert that the US remains a member — though an inactive one — due to its outstanding bill. The Trump administration has also been retreating from various global health initiatives. Last year, Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency significantly reduced the US Agency for International Development, which was dedicated to humanitarian relief and health programs. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has withdrawn US support from the Global Vaccine Alliance, which supplies immunizations to low-income countries.
The State Department has initiated efforts on global health initiatives with approximately 60 countries to enhance oversight for disease surveillance and facilitate collaboration, potentially acting as an alternative to the WHO’s Pandemic Agreement. A senior HHS official stated, “More announcements on US global health strategy will be released in the coming months.” The official stated that there are no current or future plans to rejoin the WHO.
