Euronews: The United States Has Officially Left WHO, Ending a Year of Controversial Health Reforms
24 January 2026
Euronews news story
22 January 2026 was the United States’ final day as a member of the World Health Organization (WHO) after a year of polemic health policy decisions.
On 20 January 2025, Donald Trump signed an executive order to formally initiate the United States’ withdrawal from WHO – a process that concluded on 22 January 2026, a year after the United Nations was notified.
The US government cited the organisation’s mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic, and other global health crises, its failure to adopt urgently needed reforms, and its inability to demonstrate independence from the inappropriate political influence of WHO member states, as reasons for its departure.
Since the announcement last year, the United States’ health policy has steadily distanced itself from the international organisation and broader global frameworks.
Read the full news story here.
SEE ALSO:
- Health Policy Watch: Stars and Stripes No Longer Flying at WHO – But US Can’t Really Leave Until Dues are Paid, Agency Says /23 January 2026; updated 25 January 2025 with the WHO response to the US press statements/
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Joint Statement by Secretary of State Rubio and Secretary of Health and Human Services Kennedy on the Termination of U.S. Membership in the World Health Organization (WHO) /22 January 2026/
- WHO Statement on Notification of Withdrawal of the United States /24 January 2026/
