Explaining its withdrawal from the WHO, the American administration pointed to the "insufficient response of the organization to the COVID-19 pandemic that began in Wuhan, as well as its inability to implement necessary reforms and maintain independence from political pressure from member states."
According to Reuters, the US was the largest donor to the WHO, contributing about 18% of the organization's total budget. Due to the plans to withdraw from the WHO, the organization intends to reduce its staff by 25% by 2026.
President Donald Trump issued an order to withdraw from the WHO on January 20, 2025 — the first day of his return to the White House. The completion of the withdrawal process a year later is due to the requirements of American legislation, which stipulates that notification of such a step must be submitted 12 months in advance.
However, the law also requires settling all outstanding debts.
