United Nations confirms US will leave World Health Organization in 2026
Al Jazeera
The UN body has received a formal request from Washington to withdraw next year as Trump orders a pause on WHO funding.
The United States is set to officially withdraw from the World Health Organization (WHO) in January 2026 after the UN body received a formal letter from US President Donald Trump this week.
UN deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq said on Thursday that the withdrawal was now set in motion after Trump pledged on Monday – his first day in office – to withdraw the US from the WHO and to put an end to future funding of the organisation.
“I can confirm we have now received the US letter on the WHO withdrawal. It is dated 22 January 2025. It would take effect a year from yesterday, on 22 January 2026,” Haq said.
Trump also ordered Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the director of the US government’s Office of Management and Budget to “pause the future transfer of any United States Government funds, supports, or resources to the WHO”.
Washington has recalled all US government personnel working with the WHO and ordered them to cease participating in negotiations on a WHO-led global treaty on dealing with pandemics.
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The UN body has received a formal request from Washington to withdraw next year as Trump orders a pause on WHO funding.
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