The World Health Organization has expressed deep regret over the formal notification of withdrawal received from the United States, warning that the decision leaves both the American nation and the broader global community less secure. As a founding member of the organization, the United States has historically contributed significantly to many of the WHO’s most monumental public health achievements. These joint milestones include the historic eradication of smallpox, alongside critical, ongoing progress against a vast array of global health threats such as polio, HIV, Ebola, influenza, tuberculosis, malaria, neglected tropical diseases, antimicrobial resistance, and food safety concerns.
The official notification of withdrawal raises complex legal and administrative issues that will be formally considered by the WHO Executive Board at its upcoming regular meeting, scheduled to begin on February 2, as well as by the broader World Health Assembly during its annual meeting in May 2026.
In responding to the announcement, the WHO acknowledged specific statements issued by the government of the United States alleging that the health body has "trashed and tarnished" and insulted the country while compromising its institutional independence. The organization firmly countered this perspective, stating that the exact reverse is true. As it routinely does with every sovereign Member State, the WHO emphasized that it has continuously sought to engage with the United States in good faith, maintaining full and unwavering respect for its national sovereignty.
Among the primary justifications cited by the United States for its withdrawal are alleged "WHO failures during the COVID-19 pandemic," including accusations that the organization obstructed the timely and accurate sharing of critical epidemiological information and subsequently attempted to conceal those shortcomings. Addressing these assertions, the organization noted that while no single international organization or national government managed to navigate every aspect of the crisis perfectly, the WHO stands resolutely by its comprehensive response to the unprecedented global health emergency.
Throughout the unfolding crisis, the organization maintained that it acted swiftly, disseminated all available information rapidly and with complete transparency to the global community, and advised Member States strictly on the basis of the best available scientific evidence. The WHO actively recommended proven public health measures such as the use of masks, vaccines, and physical distancing, but clarified that it never at any stage recommended universal mask mandates, vaccine mandates, or sweeping national lockdowns. Instead, the agency supported sovereign governments in making the difficult policy decisions they believed were in the best interests of their respective populations, leaving the final implementation entirely in national hands.
Detailing the timeline of its initial emergency response, the WHO noted that immediately after receiving the first reports detailing a cluster of cases involving "pneumonia of unknown cause" in Wuhan, China, on December 31, 2019, the organization formally requested further information from Chinese authorities and activated its internal emergency incident management system. By the time the first official death was reported from China on January 11, 2020, the WHO had already alerted the world through formal diplomatic channels, public statements, and social media platforms. Furthermore, the agency had convened global experts and published comprehensive technical guidance advising countries on how to protect their domestic populations and healthcare systems.
When the WHO Director-General officially declared COVID-19 to be a public health emergency of international concern under the International Health Regulations on January 30, 2020—representing the absolute highest level of institutional alarm under international health law—fewer than 100 reported cases and zero reported deaths existed outside of China.
During the critical opening weeks and months of the global pandemic, the Director-General repeatedly urged all national governments to take immediate, decisive action to safeguard their people. He issued stark public warnings, cautioning that "the window of opportunity is closing," declaring that "this is not a drill," and prominently describing COVID-19 as "public enemy number one."
In the wake of multiple independent and institutional reviews examining the COVID-19 pandemic, including evaluations of the WHO’s own operational performance, the organization has actively implemented concrete steps to strengthen its internal processes. These measures are designed to better support individual countries in bolstering their domestic pandemic preparedness and response capacities. The surveillance, alert, and response systems that the organization developed and managed before, during, and after the acute emergency phase of the pandemic continue to operate around the clock, contributing directly to the ongoing safety and security of all countries, including the United States.
The United States government also asserted in its public statements that the WHO has pursued a politicized, bureaucratic agenda driven primarily by nations hostile to American interests. The organization categorically rejected this characterization as untrue. Operating as a specialized agency of the United Nations governed collectively by 194 Member States, the WHO stressed that it has always remained, and will continue to remain, entirely impartial. Its fundamental purpose is to serve all countries equitably, with deep respect for national sovereignty, operating strictly without fear or favor.
Despite the withdrawal notice, the organization expressed its appreciation for the steadfast support and continued engagement of its remaining Member States. These nations continue to work collaboratively within the established framework of the WHO to pursue practical solutions to the world’s most formidable health threats, encompassing both communicable and noncommunicable diseases.
Most notably, WHO Member States achieved a historic milestone last year by adopting the WHO Pandemic Agreement. Once fully ratified, this accord will establish a landmark instrument of international law designed to keep the world significantly safer from future pandemics. Member States are currently engaged in active negotiations regarding an annex to the agreement, known as the Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing system. If successfully adopted, this mechanism will promote the rapid detection and sharing of pathogens possessing pandemic potential, while simultaneously ensuring equitable and timely global access to life-saving vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics.
Concluding its formal response, the WHO stated its sincere hope that the United States will, in the future, return to active participation within the organization. In the interim, the WHO remains steadfastly committed to collaborating with all nations across the globe in tireless pursuit of its core institutional mission and constitutional mandate: ensuring that the highest attainable standard of health is recognized as a fundamental, inalienable right for all people.
