US Withdraws from WHO (Funding Halted, Global Health Impact Looms)
The US has officially left the World Health Organization (WHO), which means that one of its biggest donors is no longer giving money. This action comes after an executive order signed by former President Donald Trump, who said the WHO was too “China-centric” during the Covid pandemic. The US Department of Health and Human Services said they were pulling out because the WHO allegedly mishandled the pandemic, didn’t make any changes, and was influenced by member states. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called it a loss for both the US and the world. Washington hasn’t paid its dues for 2024 and 2025, which are thought to be $260 million. It has also pulled US staff from WHO offices around the world and stopped funding and other activities. Officials in the US said that future involvement will be limited to protecting American health and will depend on partnerships and links with NGOs and faith-based groups, though the specifics are still unclear. The WHO talked about its ongoing work to improve global health, such as fighting polio, HIV, and maternal mortality, as well as its international pandemic treaty, which the US did not sign. It also said that the US’s withdrawal will be talked about at its board meeting from February 2 to 7, 2026.
