The US officially exits WHO, criticising its COVID-19 response, and pledges direct partnerships to lead global health initiatives
The United States has officially completed its withdrawal from the World Health Organisation (WHO), fulfilling a commitment made by President Donald Trump under an executive order signed one year earlier.
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A joint statement from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of State cited WHO’s alleged mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic, failure to implement urgent reforms, and perceived political influence as reasons for the exit.
“Today, the United States completes its withdrawal from WHO due to the organisation’s mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic, its failure to adopt urgently needed reforms, and its inability to demonstrate independence from inappropriate political influence,” the statement read.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted that the yearlong process included halting all U.S. funding, withdrawing personnel, and redirecting prior WHO activities to direct bilateral engagements with other countries and organisations.
Officials criticised WHO’s early pandemic response, saying it delayed declaring a global health emergency, praised China’s handling despite under-reporting, and failed to address airborne transmission and asymptomatic risks promptly.
They added that post-pandemic reforms were insufficient to restore trust.
The statement emphasised that the U.S. will continue global health leadership independently, focusing on emergency response, biosecurity coordination, and health innovation while prioritising national and international partners.
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This withdrawal follows a broader move by the Trump administration to exit 66 international organisations, including the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change, prompting criticism from former officials and global health experts.
