Washington, MINA – The United States has formally withdrawn from the World Health Organization, ending nearly 78 years of membership in the UN health agency. The departure, which took effect on January 22, 2026, follows the required one-year notice period under international rules.
In a joint statement, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced the move, stating the US had withdrawn from the WHO and freed itself from the organization’s constraints.
The officials cited the WHO’s alleged failures during the COVID-19 pandemic, accusing the agency of pursuing a politicized agenda, obstructing information sharing and acting under the influence of nations hostile to US interests.
As a result, all US funding and staffing for WHO initiatives have ceased and personnel have been recalled. The officials stated that future US engagement will be strictly limited to the withdrawal process, with the country shifting its focus to direct bilateral partnerships and independent approaches to global health.
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WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has repeatedly expressed regret over the decision, calling it a “lose-lose situation.” The United States was a founding member of the WHO, having signed its constitution in 1946 and formally ratified it in 1948.
The withdrawal fulfills a long-standing policy of the Trump administration, which initiated the process in 2025 over criticisms of the WHO’s handling of the pandemic and its relationship with China.[]
Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)
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