The United States has officially withdrawn from the World Health Organization (WHO), bringing to an end its 78-year membership in the United Nations health agency.
The move follows a year-long withdrawal process initiated by President Donald Trump after he signed an executive order on the first day of his second term in office.
The formal exit was confirmed on Thursday, a year after Washington notified the Geneva-based organization of its intention to leave, in line with the required one-year waiting period before withdrawal could take effect.
President Trump said the decision was driven by WHO’s “mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic” and “other global health crises”.
He also argued that US membership required unfairly onerous payments, a claim that has long been a point of contention between Washington and the agency.
Announcing the completion of the withdrawal, a joint statement from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr said, “The United States withdrew from the World Health Organization (WHO), freeing itself from its constraints.”
Despite the formal exit, the process has been marked by unresolved financial and operational issues.
The WHO says the United States owes more than Sh16.77 billion in unpaid fees, although there is uncertainty and disagreement over the exact amount and how it will be settled.
Member states are expected to discuss the US departure and its implications at the WHO’s executive board meeting in February, according to a spokesperson for the organization.
US officials have acknowledged that several practical challenges remain unresolved. Among them is the potential loss of access to international health data that could provide early warning of emerging disease outbreaks or future pandemics.
Over the past year, global health experts and international officials have repeatedly urged Washington to reconsider its decision, warning that the split could weaken both US and global health security.
Concerns have focused on how the absence of the United States, one of the WHO’s largest funders and most influential members, could affect the global response to infectious diseases, vaccine coordination, and emergency preparedness.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has been among the most vocal critics of the decision. Speaking earlier this month, he said, “I hope the US will reconsider and rejoin WHO.”
He warned that the withdrawal would have serious consequences, saying it makes the US unsafe, and makes the rest of the world unsafe, and added that it was not really the right decision.
Experts say the separation could limit the ability of both sides to share data, coordinate responses to outbreaks, and manage cross-border health threats.
US officials have conceded that access to global disease surveillance information, previously available through the WHO, is one of the key gaps yet to be addressed.
The decision also raises questions about how future global health emergencies will be managed without formal US participation in the world’s leading health body.
The WHO plays a central role in coordinating international responses to pandemics, setting health standards, and supporting weaker health systems.
While the Trump administration has framed the withdrawal as a move toward independence and fiscal fairness, critics argue it risks isolating the United States at a time when international cooperation is critical.
As the WHO and its member states prepare to debate the implications of the US exit, the long-term impact of America’s absence from the organization, both at home and globally, remains uncertain.
