US EditionTrump officially cuts ties with WHO, ending decades-long partnership
The U.S. ends nearly $280 million in WHO funding and recalls staff, citing pandemic-related failures and politicization, prompting concerns about global health collaboration and regulatory impacts.
- On January 22, 2026, the United States formally notified the World Health Organization of withdrawal, recalling all U.S. WHO staff and stopping nearly $280 million in funding.
- The Trump administration cited 'WHO failures' and 'concealed' obstruction during COVID-19, while WHO defended its response, stating it activated its emergency system on December 31, 2019, and alerted the world by January 11, 2020.
- A key technical risk is disrupted pathogen sharing that underpins vaccine and therapeutic development, as experts warn the Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing system could slow AI-driven drug discovery for pharmaceutical industry.
- WHO's Executive Board will review the notification in February 2026 and the World Health Assembly will address it in May 2026, while public health experts warn the move could hurt disease tracking and CDC global operations have been reduced by staffing cuts.
- Next month, WHO will convene flu experts for strain selection while U.S. Department of Health and Human Services negotiates CDC participation; the exit risks Gavi-supported vaccination programs and complicates pharmaceutical R&D and supply chains.
13 Articles
13 Articles
Trump Is Making the Right Call in Leaving the WHO
In his first day in office, President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order initiating the United States withdrawal from the World Health Organization, the United Nation’s agency charged with supporting global health. Last week, he finalized that action, ending all funding, personnel support, and formal engagements. Trump’s action is hardly precipitous. In fact, when he indicated his desire to disengage from the WHO in 2020, he noted that his…
The withdrawal of the United States from the World Health Organization (WHO) a year ago by an executive order of US President Donald ... The post WHO chief defends criticism from the United States – never recommended "Impflicht und Lockdowns" ("Impflicht und Lockdowns empfehlen"), appeared first on Apollo News.
Medical Xpress
app.linkTrump officially cuts ties with WHO, ending decades-long partnership
The United States has officially pulled out of the World Health Organization (WHO), a year after President Donald Trump announced plans to leave the global health group. The Trump administration said the decision was based on what it called WHO's poor handling of COVID-19, lack of adopting changes and political pressure from some members.
A Flag Recaptured: US Exit From WHO Highlights Anger Over COVID-19 Pandemic
A dispute over an American flag has become symbolic of the bitter public dispute between the US and the World Health Organization (WHO) after the US withdrew from the organization on 22 January. In a joint statement by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F Kennedy Jr on […]
Neither the World Health Organization nor the United Nations has the power to prevent the US from withdrawing. Nor are there any legal avenues to claim the outstanding membership fees of $278 million.
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