US Exit Sends Ripples Through Global Health Community – WHO Reacts

The United States has formally withdrawn from the World Health Organization (WHO), citing the agency’s alleged failures in managing the COVID-19 pandemic and its inability to implement critical reforms.

The White House announced the move on Thursday, explaining that the decision followed years of concerns about the WHO’s transparency, independence, and handling of the global health crisis.

In a joint statement, the US Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of State said the withdrawal was prompted by what they described as WHO’s “mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic originating in Wuhan, China,” as well as its failure to carry out urgently needed reforms and its lack of independence from political influence by member states.

The statement read: “The organization’s mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic, its failure to adopt critical reforms, and its inability to demonstrate independence from the undue political influence of WHO member states informed this decision.”

According to the White House, the withdrawal process officially began on January 20, 2025, when President Donald Trump announced plans for the United States to leave the global health body. Throughout the year, the US gradually halted funding, withdrew personnel, and redirected programs previously coordinated through WHO toward direct partnerships with other nations and institutions.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted that the United States would maintain only limited engagement with the WHO to facilitate the withdrawal.

WHO Criticized Over Early COVID-19 Response

The White House further criticized the WHO for delaying the declaration of a global public health emergency and pandemic during the early stages of COVID-19, arguing that this delay cost the world critical time.

“WHO’s delay in declaring a public health emergency and pandemic cost the world vital weeks as the virus spread,” the statement said. It also accused the organization’s leadership of echoing and praising China’s response despite early evidence of underreporting, information suppression, and delays in confirming human-to-human transmission.

The US additionally faulted WHO for downplaying the risks of asymptomatic transmission and for failing to promptly acknowledge the airborne spread of the virus. The organization’s post-pandemic reforms, including its report on COVID-19’s origins, were also criticized for dismissing the possibility that the virus may have been created in a lab, despite China withholding early genetic data and details on laboratory activities in Wuhan.

“Its report on the possible origins of COVID-19 rejected the possibility of a lab-based origin, even though China refused to provide genetic sequences from early cases,” the statement added.

WHO Responds

In response, WHO noted that the United States had not paid its membership fees for 2024 and 2025, totaling approximately $260 million. The agency said discussions regarding the US withdrawal would take place at its executive board meeting in February, but acknowledged it has no legal mechanism to block the exit.

WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus expressed regret over the decision, urging the US to reconsider. “I hope the US will reconsider and rejoin WHO. Withdrawal is a loss not just for the US, but for the world… This is not about money, it is about cooperation and solidarity,” he said.

Despite leaving the WHO, the White House stated that the United States will continue to play a leading role in global health through direct engagement with other nations, NGOs, private sector partners, and faith-based organizations. Its focus will remain on emergency response, biosecurity coordination, and health innovation both domestically and internationally.