The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of State announced the completion of the U.S. withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO) due to concerns over the organization's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and lack of reforms.
Why it matters. The U.S. withdrawal affects global health governance and international cooperation on public health issues.
WASHINGTON — January 22, 2026— The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.
WASHINGTON — January 22, 2026— The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of State today announced the United States' completion of its withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO) due to the organization's mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic that arose out of Wuhan, China, its failure to adopt urgently needed reforms, and its inability to demonstrate indepen…
The WHO delayed declaring a global public health emergency and a pandemic during the early stages of COVID-19, costing the world critical weeks as the virus spread. During that period, WHO leadership echoed and praised China's response despite evidence of early underreporting, suppression of information and delays in confirming human-to-human transmission. The organization also downplayed asympto…
