By Muhammad Mamman
In a move that has sent shockwaves through global health and diplomatic circles, the United States of America has formally withdrawn from the World Health Organization (WHO) today, Thursday 22 January 2026, ending more than seven decades of membership and cooperation. 
The decision — initiated by an executive order signed by President Donald Trump on his first day in office in January 2025 — officially concluded its exit process on Thursday, despite questions over unpaid fees and legal obligations. 
Under U.S. law, a country must give one year’s notice and settle outstanding dues before leaving the WHO. However, Washington has declined to pay approximately $260 million in owed membership fees for 2024 and 2025, raising legal and procedural concerns around the departure. 
A Rift Over Global Health Leadership
The Trump administration justified the withdrawal by claiming the WHO failed to manage major global health crises effectively, including the COVID-19 pandemic, and criticised the organisation’s governance and cost burden on American taxpayers. A State Department spokesperson emphasised that future funding, support and personnel will be halted as part of the shift. 
In response, WHO officials have described the decision as a serious blow to both U.S. and global health security. Director-General **Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has repeatedly warned that the withdrawal makes not just the United States, but the whole world less safe by diminishing cooperation on disease surveillance and emergency response. 
Global and Health Expert Alarm
Public health experts and international leaders have expressed deep concern that severing ties with the world’s pre-eminent health agency could weaken responses to future pandemics and other health emergencies. With the U.S. historically among the WHO’s largest contributors of funding and expertise, its absence may leave coordination gaps and information silos, potentially hampering rapid outbreak detection and effective containment. 
Critics also warn that programmes tackling diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria — many of which rely on global cooperation — could face disruption without U.S. engagement. 
What Happens Next?
Although the U.S. exit is now effective, debates continue over its implications. The WHO’s Executive Board is set to discuss Washington’s departure and how to manage future collaboration with member states in February. Meanwhile, countries around the world — from traditional allies to emerging health leaders — are assessing how to fill the leadership and funding vacuum left by America’s departure. 
As one of the most consequential health policy shifts in recent history unfolds, global health professionals warn that the decision will reverberate far beyond national borders — shaping the trajectory of international health cooperation for years to come. 
