WHO Warns U.S. Withdrawal Puts Global Health, Safety at Risk

WHO Warns U.S. Withdrawal Puts Global Health, Safety at Risk

The World Health Organization (WHO) has cautioned that the United States’ withdrawal from the agency will make both the U.S. and the world less safe, disputing the reasons cited by Washington for the move.

In a statement, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the U.S. exit as “untrue” and said it undermines global health security, including efforts to prevent and respond to pandemics, epidemics, and other health emergencies. He emphasised that the WHO has always worked with member states respectfully and collaboratively.

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The WHO highlighted the historic role of the United States in global health, noting contributions to fighting COVID-19, polio, malaria, HIV, tuberculosis, and other infectious diseases. The agency warned that losing U.S. participation could weaken international disease surveillance, vaccine coordination, and outbreak preparedness.

The U.S. withdrawal, effective January 22, 2026, follows a 2025 executive order citing dissatisfaction with WHO’s COVID-19 response and global health governance. Public health experts caution that the exit could limit the U.S.’s ability to respond rapidly to emerging global health threats.

In response, some U.S. states and subnational actors, including California, have pledged continued engagement with WHO programs such as the Global Outbreak Alert & Response Network (GOARN) to maintain links with international health monitoring.

The WHO’s official reaction comes ahead of its Executive Board and World Health Assembly meetings in February and May 2026, where the implications of the U.S. withdrawal will be reviewed, and strategies for sustaining global health security will be discussed.

WHO Warns U.S. Withdrawal Puts Global Health, Safety at Risk