US to officially leave WHO by January 2026, says UN

The United States will officially exit the World Health Organization (WHO) in January 2026, according to a recent update from the United Nations.

This move comes after the US President, Donald Trump, sent an official letter this week, triggering the withdrawal process.

Trump, who was sworn in as the 47th president on January 20, quickly signed several executive orders. 

One of the orders was about pulling the US out of the WHO. 

The decision, which had been a long-standing criticism of Trump, will take effect exactly one year after the letter‍‍`s date, which is January 22, 2026.

The WHO had already started seeing signs of this withdrawal back in July 2020, when Trump’s first administration formally announced plans to leave, especially as the world grappled with the rising COVID-19 pandemic.

This departure is a big loss for the WHO, as the US has been the largest financial contributor to the organization. 

The United States’ donation made up around 18% of WHO’s total budget for 2024-2025, amounting to approximately $261 million. 

China, the second-largest donor, contributed $181 million.

This move is expected to have serious implications for the global health organization as it loses its largest financial backer.