US Formally Withdraws from the World Health Organization (WHO)

The United States has officially completed its withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO). On Thursday (January 22, 2026), US Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Secretary of State Marco Rubio jointly announced the termination of the country’s membership.

This marks a historic departure, as the US had been a founding member of the global health body since 1948. With this exit, the number of WHO member states now stands at 193.

In a joint statement, the officials cited the organization's perceived failures during the COVID-19 pandemic and a lack of transparency as primary reasons for the withdrawal. President Donald Trump initiated this process through an executive order immediately after taking office. Consequently, all US funding to the WHO, which previously accounted for about 18% of its total budget, has been halted. While the UN spokesperson confirmed that the US is no longer participating in WHO activities, experts suggest this move could significantly impact global public health initiatives.