WHO Says U.S. Exit Undermines Worldwide Safety
In a post on X, Tedros said the withdrawal will leave both the country and the broader international community "less safe."
The move was set in motion when U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Jan. 20, 2025—the first day of his second term—triggering a formal exit from the UN’s specialized health agency. The United Nations received official notification two days later.
Under UN rules, the withdrawal becomes effective one year after the notice is filed.
While acknowledging the United States’ historical role as a founding member behind many of the WHO’s major accomplishments, Tedros said in the post, "Unfortunately, the reasons cited for the U.S. decision to withdraw from WHO are untrue."
He added that the decision "makes both the U.S. and the world less safe," while expressing hope that Washington "will return to active participation in WHO in the future."
Also on Saturday, the WHO released a statement expressing regret over the U.S. decision and dismissing accusations leveled by the Trump administration.
According to the agency, the implications of the withdrawal will be reviewed by the WHO Executive Board at its regular session beginning Feb. 2, and later by the World Health Assembly during its annual meeting in May 2026.
As the organization manages the fallout, the WHO Secretariat "will act on advice and guidance of our governing bodies accordingly," a WHO press official told media in an email on Wednesday.
The official added that the United States remains in arrears on its membership fees. "As of today, the USA has not paid the invoiced amounts for its assessed contributions for the biennium 2024-2025," the official said.
National Public Radio (NPR) reported that the unpaid contributions are estimated at approximately 278 million U.S. dollars.
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