Segun Atanda/
The United States has formally completed its withdrawal from the World Health Organisation (WHO), the White House confirmed on Friday, fulfilling a yearlong process initiated by President Donald Trump.
In a joint statement, Health and Human Services Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, cited the WHO’s mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic, its failure to implement urgent reforms, and its susceptibility to political influence from member states as key reasons for the U.S. exit.
President Trump first announced the decision to leave the WHO on January 20, 2025.
Over the following year, the United States ceased funding the organisation, withdrew all personnel, and redirected activities previously conducted with WHO towards direct engagements with other countries and organisations.
Following the official withdrawal, the U.S. will maintain only limited cooperation with WHO to facilitate the transition.
The U.S. criticised the WHO for delays in declaring a global public health emergency and pandemic during the early stages of COVID-19, which the U.S. says cost the world crucial weeks as the virus spread.
WHO leadership, according to U.S. officials, echoed China’s early response despite evidence of underreporting, suppression of information, and delayed confirmation of human-to-human transmission.
The organisation also downplayed the risk of asymptomatic transmission and was slow to acknowledge airborne spread.
The WHO’s post-pandemic review was similarly criticised for failing to adopt meaningful reforms to reduce political influence, address governance weaknesses, or improve coordination, undermining global trust in the organisation.
Its report on the possible origins of COVID-19 rejected the possibility of laboratory creation, despite China withholding early genetic sequences and laboratory activity records.
The U.S. government said it remains committed to global health leadership through direct bilateral and multilateral engagements, partnerships with the private sector, non-governmental organisations, and faith-based entities.
Priority areas will include emergency response, biosecurity, and health innovation, aimed at protecting American citizens while supporting international partners.
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