Trump Plans to Withdraw U.S. From World Health Organization
The incoming administration will redirect funds to domestic initiatives upon taking office.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in COVID-19
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President Donald Trump is preparing to withdraw the United States from the World Health Organization on the first day of his term. This shift in foreign policy, which follows a previous attempt in 2020, signals a move toward focusing financial resources exclusively on internal U.S. health programs.
Why it matters
The change reflects a belief that the agency failed to address China's role in the initial spread of COVID-19. This departure from global health participation may alter how the U.S. engages with international pandemic agreements moving forward.
This policy pivot follows a previous 2020 initiation of withdrawal, which was later reversed by the Biden administration in 2021. The current plan relies on redirecting U.S. contributions toward domestic health efforts, though the finalized details of this transition remain pending.
The players
Donald Trump
The current President of the United States who is leading the transition team's effort to exit the WHO.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
The nominee for secretary of Health and Human Services overseeing the incoming administration's public health agenda.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
The Director-General of the World Health Organization who has addressed the potential for U.S. withdrawal.
The details
The withdrawal process is set to be activated by the transition team on the first day of the new term. By pulling out of the World Health Organization, the administration intends to cease the financial support that historically supports global health outreach, instead shifting those funds toward local health initiatives. This decision follows long-standing criticisms regarding how the international body monitored the onset of COVID-19.
Timeline
2020: Donald Trump initiated a withdrawal process from the WHO.
10 December: Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus commented on a potential U.S. withdrawal.
May 2025: Member states are expected to finalize a global pandemic agreement.
Health Landscape
This move marks a departure from international cooperative efforts that have defined global health governance for decades. It explicitly contradicts the 2021 U.S. re-entry into the World Health Organization, signaling a shift toward nationalized health policy.
This policy shift may impact how the U.S. interacts with international research collaborations and pandemic-related standards. If you have concerns about how this could change global health oversight or vaccine distribution protocols, discuss these developments with your physician.
The takeaway
The incoming administration plans to prioritize domestic health funding by withdrawing from the World Health Organization. Readers should keep an eye on upcoming international pandemic agreements, which are currently scheduled for finalization in May 2025.
Further reading
For more updates on how global health policy changes affect domestic care, visit the COVID-19 section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Euractiv DE.
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