WHO disputes US reasons for quitting, flags $278 million in unpaid contributions

Geneva: The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) has dismissed the reasons cited by the United States for withdrawing from the UN health agency as “untrue”, warning that the decision will leave both America and the wider world “less safe”.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director-general, made the remarks on social media platform X on Saturday, according to Xinhua news agency.

US withdrawal and unpaid dues

The United States, which announced its intention to leave the WHO a year ago, has yet to clear its outstanding membership dues, a WHO press official has confirmed.

“As of today, the USA has not paid the invoiced amounts for its assessed contributions for the biennium 2024–2025,” the official said in an email to Xinhua on Wednesday.

According to a recent report by National Public Radio (NPR), the overdue amount stands at approximately 278 million US dollars.

The official added that the formal withdrawal of the United States is on the agenda of the WHO’s upcoming Executive Board meeting, and that the WHO Secretariat “will act on advice and guidance of our governing bodies accordingly”.

Trump order and formal notification

On January 20, 2025, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing the country’s withdrawal from the WHO. The United Nations received the formal notification two days later.

Under the WHO charter, the withdrawal takes effect one year after notice is given.

Earlier on Thursday, the United States announced that it has formally withdrawn from the World Health Organization, ending its membership in the global health body. The Trump administration said the move fulfilled a promise made on the president’s first day in office.

In a joint statement, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the withdrawal was carried out through an executive order signed by President Donald Trump and was intended to free the United States from what they described as the organisation’s constraints.

WHO statement: ‘Decision makes the world less safe’

In a detailed statement responding to the notification, the WHO said the United States, as a founding member, had played a central role in many of its biggest achievements.

“As a founding member of the World Health Organization (WHO), the United States of America has contributed significantly to many of WHO’s greatest achievements, including the eradication of smallpox,” the statement said, citing progress against polio, HIV, Ebola, influenza, tuberculosis, malaria, neglected tropical diseases, antimicrobial resistance and food safety.

The WHO said it “regrets the United States’ notification of withdrawal from WHO – a decision that makes both the United States and the world less safe”.

The organisation said the withdrawal raises issues that will be considered by the WHO Executive Board at its meeting starting on 2 February, and later by the World Health Assembly at its annual session in May 2026.

Rebuttal of US criticism over COVID-19

The WHO said it had taken note of US statements claiming the organisation had “trashed and tarnished” and insulted the country, and compromised its independence.

“The reverse is true,” the statement said, adding that WHO had always sought to engage with the United States “in good faith, with full respect for its sovereignty”.

Addressing criticism of its handling of COVID-19, the WHO said: “While no organization or government got everything right, WHO stands by its response to this unprecedented global health crisis.”

It said the agency acted quickly, shared information “rapidly and transparently”, and advised countries based on the best available evidence. The WHO stressed that it recommended masks, vaccines and physical distancing, but “at no stage recommended mask mandates, vaccine mandates or lockdowns”.

Timeline of early COVID-19 response

The statement detailed that WHO sought information from China immediately after reports of a cluster of pneumonia cases in Wuhan on 31 December 2019 and activated its emergency systems.

By the time the first death was reported on 11 January 2020, WHO said it had already alerted the world, convened experts and issued guidance. When COVID-19 was declared a public health emergency of international concern on 30 January 2020, there were fewer than 100 cases and no reported deaths outside China.

The Director-General repeatedly warned countries in the early phase, saying “the window of opportunity is closing”, “this is not a drill”, and calling COVID-19 “public enemy number one”.

Claims of politicisation rejected

Responding to US allegations that WHO had pursued “a politicized, bureaucratic agenda driven by nations hostile to American interests”, the organisation said: “This is untrue.”

It said WHO, governed by 194 Member States, “has always been and remains impartial and exists to serve all countries, with respect for their sovereignty, and without fear or favour”.

Future engagement and pandemic preparedness

The WHO said it had strengthened its systems following multiple reviews of the pandemic response, noting that these systems operate round the clock and have helped keep all countries safe, including the United States.

It highlighted the adoption of the WHO Pandemic Agreement last year and ongoing negotiations on a pathogen access and benefit-sharing system.

“We hope that in the future, the United States will return to active participation in WHO,” the statement said, adding that the organisation remains committed to its mission of achieving “the highest attainable standard of health as a fundamental right for all people”.