Fri Jan 24 03:42:43 UTC 2025: ## Trump Triggers US Withdrawal from WHO, Halting Funding

**United Nations, New York –** The United States will officially withdraw from the World Health Organization (WHO) in January 2026, following a formal request submitted by President Donald Trump. The UN confirmed receipt of the letter, which initiates the withdrawal process one year from its date, January 22, 2025. This action fulfills a campaign promise made by Trump on his first day in office in 2021.

Simultaneously, Trump has ordered a complete halt to all US funding, support, and resources for the WHO. All US personnel working with the organization have been recalled, effectively ending US participation in ongoing negotiations for a new WHO-led global pandemic treaty.

The withdrawal represents a significant blow to the WHO, as the US is its largest financial contributor, providing approximately 18% of its budget – roughly $261 million between 2024 and 2025. Experts warn that this loss will severely impact the organization’s ability to address global health crises, including pandemics, HIV/AIDS, and tuberculosis.

Trump’s decision stems from his long-standing criticism of the WHO’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. While a similar attempt to withdraw was made during his previous term and subsequently reversed by President Biden, this latest move is expected to be far more difficult to overturn.

The legality of Trump’s unilateral decision is being questioned. The US joined the WHO in 1948 via a joint resolution of Congress, raising concerns about whether the President has the authority to withdraw without Congressional approval. Legal experts and prominent public health figures, such as Lawrence Gostin, director of the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law, are considering legal challenges to the withdrawal. While the Republican Party controls both houses of Congress, the potential for legal action remains.

The WHO has expressed its regret over the US withdrawal, emphasizing the vital role the US plays in global health security and expressing hope for a reversal of the decision.

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