COVID-19: Agency Responds Following US Withdrawal From WHO

According to Ireporter Online, the United States has officially withdrawn from the World Health Organization (WHO), citing what it described as the global health body’s mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic and its failure to implement critical reforms. The White House announced the decision on Thursday, highlighting longstanding concerns over the WHO’s transparency, independence, and early response to the outbreak.

In a joint statement, the US Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of State blamed the WHO for “mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic that arose out of Wuhan, China,” failing to adopt necessary reforms, and lacking independence from political influence by member states.

The withdrawal process formally began on January 20, 2025, when President Donald Trump first announced plans to exit the organisation. Over the past year, the US gradually halted funding, withdrew personnel, and redirected programmes previously coordinated through the WHO to direct partnerships with other nations and institutions. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the US would maintain limited engagement with the WHO only to finalise the withdrawal.

The White House criticised the WHO for delaying the declaration of a global public health emergency and pandemic during the early stages of COVID-19, claiming that the delay cost the world valuable time. Officials also faulted the organisation for praising China’s response to the outbreak despite evidence of underreporting, suppression of information, and delays in confirming human-to-human transmission. The WHO was further criticised for downplaying the risk of asymptomatic and airborne transmission and for dismissing the possibility that the virus may have originated in a laboratory, despite China’s refusal to release early genetic data.

Reacting to the US exit, the WHO revealed that the country had not paid its membership fees for 2024 and 2025, totalling approximately $260 million. WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus expressed regret over the decision and urged the United States to reconsider, stating that withdrawal is a loss for both the US and the global community.

Despite leaving the WHO, the White House affirmed that the United States would continue to engage in global health efforts directly with other countries, non-governmental organisations, private sector partners, and faith-based groups, maintaining a focus on emergency response, biosecurity coordination, and health innovation.