U.S. completes WHO withdrawal

WASHINGTON — The United States has completed its withdrawal from the World Health Organization, ending decades of membership after a year-long exit process that federal officials say was triggered by the agency’s handling of COVID-19. The announcement was detailed in a CDC release and reported by Reuters.

Officials said the U.S. stopped funding the WHO and recalled personnel during the notice period and will now engage on global health priorities through direct bilateral relationships rather than a multilateral agency, a shift also described by the BBC.

Why the U.S. left

The CDC release said the withdrawal was driven by claims that the WHO mishandled the pandemic and failed to adopt reforms, while the administration argued the agency was too influenced by member states. Those rationales, and the policy shift they underpin, were summarized in the CDC statement and in the detailed reporting by Reuters.

WHO responded by saying it regrets the U.S. decision and considers it a loss for global health, adding that the issue will be taken up by its executive board and the World Health Assembly. The organization’s response is laid out in its official statement.

Funding and fallout

Reuters reported that the United States owes outstanding fees and that the WHO has faced a budget crunch and staff reductions linked to the U.S. exit, highlighting the financial impact of losing a major donor. Those figures and the agency’s strain were detailed by Reuters.

AP News noted that U.S. officials acknowledge unresolved issues such as access to international outbreak data, and that experts warned the move could slow vaccine and medicine development against new threats. The broader public health consequences were outlined by AP.

What comes next

U.S. officials said future engagement with the WHO will be limited to finalizing the withdrawal, while the administration plans to expand direct partnerships with governments, NGOs and the private sector on disease surveillance and emergency response, according to the CDC release.

Global health leaders have urged a rethink, warning that a diminished WHO could weaken coordination on outbreaks ranging from influenza to Ebola. Reuters reported that WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and other experts pushed the U.S. to reconsider, citing the organization’s role in cross-border health threats.

The BBC and WHO highlighted the agency’s work on polio, HIV and other health programs, arguing that a reduced U.S. role could complicate international cooperation at a time when pandemic preparedness remains a high priority.

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