The World Health Organization has expressed deep regret over the formal notification of withdrawal submitted by the United States, warning that the decision leaves both the American public and the global community less safe. As one of the founding members of the United Nations health agency, the United States has historically contributed significantly to many of the WHO’s most monumental public health achievements over the decades. These cooperative milestones include the total eradication of smallpox, alongside critical global progress against a vast array of persistent health threats, ranging from polio, HIV, Ebola, influenza, tuberculosis, and malaria to neglected tropical diseases, antimicrobial resistance, and food safety standards.
The formal notification of withdrawal received from Washington raises complex administrative, financial, and diplomatic issues that will now be formally addressed by the WHO Executive Board. The board is scheduled to consider the matter at its upcoming regular meeting starting on February 2, followed by further comprehensive deliberations by the broader World Health Assembly during its annual meeting slated for May 2026.
In response to statements released by the government of the United States alleging that the organization has "trashed and tarnished" and insulted American interests while compromising its own institutional independence, the WHO offered a firm rebuttal. The organization emphasized that the exact reverse is true. Operating in accordance with its foundational principles, the WHO has consistently sought to engage with the United States in good faith, maintaining unwavering respect for American sovereignty, just as it does with all other sovereign Member States.
The United States has explicitly cited several grievances as central motivations for its withdrawal, focusing heavily on alleged "WHO failures during the COVID-19 pandemic." Among these assertions, Washington accused the organization of "obstructing the timely and accurate sharing of critical information" and subsequently attempting to "conceal those failures."
Addressing these serious accusations, the WHO acknowledged that while no single organization, institution, or national government managed to get every aspect of an unprecedented global crisis entirely right, the agency stands firmly by its comprehensive response. Throughout the unfolding of the coronavirus pandemic, the organization maintained that it acted rapidly, sharing all available information transparently and swiftly with the global community. Furthermore, the agency provided expert advice to Member States grounded strictly in the best available scientific evidence.
The WHO clarified that while it recommended proven public health measures such as the use of masks, vaccines, and physical distancing, it at no stage recommended mandatory mask policies, mandatory vaccinations, or nationwide lockdowns. Instead, the agency maintained a supportive role, empowering sovereign governments to make independent policy decisions that their respective leaders believed were in the best interests of their citizens, leaving the ultimate execution of those choices entirely in national hands.
Detailing the timeline of the early days of the global emergency, the WHO noted that it acted immediately upon receiving the very first reports detailing a cluster of cases of "pneumonia of unknown cause" originating in Wuhan, China, on December 31, 2019. The agency formally requested further information from Chinese authorities and simultaneously 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 global community through formal diplomatic channels, public statements, and social media platforms. It had also convened international networks of experts and published comprehensive technical guidance advising countries on how best to protect their domestic populations and healthcare systems.
When the WHO Director-General formally declared COVID-19 to be a public health emergency of international concern on January 30, 2020, utilizing the highest possible level of alarm under international health law, the epidemiological situation globally was still in its infancy. Outside of China, there were fewer than 100 reported cases of the virus and zero reported deaths at the time of that critical declaration.
During the opening weeks and months of the spreading crisis, the Director-General repeatedly urged governments worldwide to take immediate, decisive action to safeguard their populations. He issued stark warnings emphasizing that "the window of opportunity is closing," famously declaring that "this is not a drill," and describing the novel coronavirus as "public enemy number one."
In the wake of multiple independent and institutional reviews evaluating the global handling of the COVID-19 pandemic—including thorough evaluations of the WHO’s own performance—the agency has actively implemented internal reforms. These measures were designed to strengthen its operational frameworks and better support individual countries in bolstering their own national pandemic preparedness and response capacities. The continuous, round-the-clock surveillance and response systems developed and managed by the organization before, during, and after the acute emergency phase have continued to function as a vital shield, contributing to the health security of all countries, including the United States.
Regarding American criticisms that the WHO has "pursued a politicized, bureaucratic agenda driven by nations hostile to American interests," the agency firmly rejected the characterization as untrue. As a specialized agency of the United Nations governed collectively by 194 Member States, the WHO stressed that it has always remained strictly impartial. Its core institutional purpose is to serve every nation equally, maintaining profound respect for national sovereignty and operating without fear or favor.
Despite the withdrawal notice from Washington, the WHO expressed deep appreciation for the continued support, collaboration, and engagement of its remaining Member States. These nations continue to work productively within the multilateral framework of the WHO to forge collective solutions to the world’s most pressing health challenges, spanning both communicable and noncommunicable diseases.
As a primary example of this ongoing international cooperation, Member States overwhelmingly adopted the landmark WHO Pandemic Agreement last year. Once fully ratified, this historic instrument of international law will serve to secure the world more effectively against future pandemic threats. Furthermore, Member States are currently engaged in delicate negotiations regarding a crucial annex to the agreement—the Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing system. If successfully adopted, this framework will significantly accelerate 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 official statement, the World Health Organization expressed hope that the United States will eventually choose to return to active participation within the agency. In the interim, the organization reaffirmed that it remains steadfastly committed to working alongside all nations worldwide to fulfill its foundational mission and constitutional mandate, which guarantees that the highest attainable standard of health is a fundamental and inalienable human right for all people.
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