In a bold move that has many heads shaking, the United States officially cut ties with the World Health Organization (WHO) on January 22, 2026, after a year-long waiting game. This decision followed a one-year notice period that the WHO requires. It was a year ago when Trump signed the executive order to initiate this withdrawal. Naturally, the notice was given immediately upon his return to office, as if they were just waiting for the right moment to drop the bomb.
The U.S. officially severed ties with WHO, marking a controversial end to a long-standing relationship.
But don’t get too excited—the withdrawal isn’t complete until the U.S. coughs up its outstanding debts.
Now, let’s talk cash. The U.S. has been footing about 20% of WHO’s operational budget. That’s a whopping $278 million for 2024 and 2025 that remains unpaid. The State Department has made it clear: no payments were made before the withdrawal. Last year, Trump slashed funding, reducing the WHO budget by 9%, and paused future funds, leaving over $260 million in unpaid dues. Who needs to keep the world healthy when you can save taxpayer money, right?
The rationale? Well, the U.S. claims it’s all because WHO failed during the COVID pandemic. This was just part of a broader exit from 66 international organizations. It’s all about “America First,” they say, rejecting any notion of multilateralism that treats the U.S. like a global ATM. This departure is viewed as part of a broader retrenchment from multilateralism, characterized as “partly-lateralism,” indicating a diminished role of the U.S. in global cooperative efforts.
The fallout? WHO is now scrambling. Staff layoffs, budget cuts, and major gaps in funding loom large. Experts are warning that this shortsighted decision jeopardizes U.S. virus surveillance and global health commitments. The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) isn’t thrilled, and flu vaccine development might just take a nice vacation.
Meanwhile, the U.S. demands an American leader for WHO, but good luck with that. With this abrupt exit, the future of U.S.-WHO relations hangs in the balance, and it’s anyone’s guess what’s next.
