Nearly $280M in funding has been cut; experts warn the move could weaken global disease response<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
By I. Edwards HealthDay Reporter<\/b>
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MONDAY, Jan. 26, 2026 (HealthDay News) \u2014 The United States has officially pulled out of the World Health Organization<\/a> (WHO), a year after President Donald Trump<\/a> announced plans to leave the global health group.<\/p>\n The Trump administration said the decision was based on what it called WHO\u2019s poor handling of COVID-19<\/a>, lack of adopting changes and political pressure from some members.<\/p>\n Since helping create the organization in 1948, the U.S. had been one of WHO\u2019s most powerful members. It was also its largest financial supporter.<\/p>\n \u201cWithdrawing from the World Health Organization is scientifically reckless,\u201d said Dr. Ronald Nahass<\/a>, president of the Infectious Diseases Society of America.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cIt fails to acknowledge the fundamental natural history of infectious diseases. Global cooperation is not a luxury; it is a biological necessity,” Nahass added.<\/p>\n The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said the U.S. will instead take part in global health efforts through \u201cexisting and new engagements directly with other countries, the private sector, nongovernmental organizations and faith-based entities.”<\/p>\n Officials say America will work directly with other countries and groups using existing programs through agencies like the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).<\/p>\n \u201cI just want to stress the point that we are not withdrawing from being a leader on global health,\u201d a senior HHS official told The Washington Post<\/em>.<\/p>\n All U.S. staff working with WHO offices have been recalled, and nearly $280 million in U.S. funding has been stopped, according to a person familiar with the matter.<\/p>\n WHO says the U.S. must settle some financial commitments before the withdrawal is finished. Its executive board plans to review the matter in February.<\/p>\n Public health experts warn the move could hurt disease tracking and response efforts.<\/p>\n What’s more, U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr<\/a>. has also said the U.S. will stop funding Gavi<\/a>, a group that helps provide vaccines in lower-income countries. Meanwhile, staffing cuts have reduced the CDC\u2019s global health operations.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s almost laughable that the Trump administration thinks they can lead in global health,\u201d Lawrence Gostin<\/a>, a Georgetown University law professor who works with WHO programs, told The Post. <\/em>\u201cThey\u2019ve decimated the global health capacities of the CDC. They\u2019ve slashed global health funding around the world.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s also unclear how the withdrawal will affect major health meetings. Next month, WHO plans to gather flu experts to decide which virus strains should be included in next season\u2019s vaccine, a process that guides production months in advance.<\/p>\n U.S. scientists helped with that effort last year. HHS officials said talks are ongoing about whether CDC experts will be allowed to join the next meeting.<\/p>\n More information<\/strong><\/p>\n Learn more about what the World Health Organization does<\/a>.<\/p>\n