Overview
- The Department of Health and Human Services confirmed the withdrawal was completed, formalizing the process launched by a 2025 executive order.
- All U.S. government funding to WHO has ended and embedded personnel and contractors have been withdrawn, with limited technical collaboration still possible, such as influenza vaccine composition talks.
- The administration says it will not pay roughly $260–280 million in unpaid 2024–2025 assessments, while legal experts note U.S. law contemplates settling obligations but WHO has little power to compel payment.
- WHO leaders criticized the move as harmful, and public‑health experts warn it will weaken global disease surveillance, data and sample sharing, including work supported by the Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System.
- Officials say the U.S. will shift to bilateral and non‑WHO partnerships led by the CDC’s Global Health Center after decades as WHO’s largest single‑state donor, historically covering up to about a quarter of the agency’s budget.