In a striking rebuttal, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has publicly declared the United States’ rationale for withdrawing from the UN health agency to be fundamentally inaccurate. The WHO leader issued this condemnation through his official social media channel on Saturday, emphasizing that America’s departure would compromise both national and global security.
The controversial withdrawal process, initiated by former President Donald Trump through an executive order signed on January 20, 2025, is now approaching its procedural conclusion. According to WHO regulations, the separation becomes official one year after formal notification is received by the United Nations, which occurred just two days following Trump’s executive action.
Compounding the diplomatic rift, WHO press officials confirmed this week that the United States has failed to settle its outstanding financial obligations to the organization. The unpaid dues for the 2024-2025 biennium amount to approximately $278 million, as reported by U.S. media outlet National Public Radio.
The formalization of America’s exit is scheduled for discussion during the WHO’s imminent Executive Board meeting. Organization representatives indicated that the Secretariat will proceed according to the guidance provided by its governing bodies regarding this unprecedented withdrawal by the agency’s traditional largest funder.