Withdrew from the World Health Organization
Trump withdrew the U.S. from the World Health Organization during an era of pandemic threats, abandoning global disease surveillance infrastructure. No other country followed suit. The U.S. had provided 22% of WHO's mandatory contributions.
On his first day back in office, January 20, 2025, Trump signed an executive order withdrawing the United States from the World Health Organization, citing grievances about WHO's handling of COVID-19. The withdrawal became effective on January 22, 2026.
The United States had been the largest funder of the WHO, responsible for 22% of its mandatory assessed contributions. No other country followed suit.
Public health experts warned of severe consequences:
- Reduced U.S. access to global disease surveillance networks — critical for early pandemic detection
- Diminished American influence over international health standards and regulations
- Loss of coordination mechanisms for responding to disease outbreaks that could reach American shores
- Weakened global vaccination and disease eradication programs
The withdrawal was particularly reckless given the lessons of COVID-19 — a pandemic that demonstrated the critical importance of international health cooperation and early warning systems. Walking away from the primary institution designed to prevent the next pandemic reflected an inability to learn from catastrophic experience.