SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being | SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) | Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) | NITI Aayog
The United States has formally terminated its membership in the World Health Organisation (WHO) through a joint statement by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., issued on 22 January 2026.
The withdrawal follows a yearlong disengagement process initiated by President Trump’s Executive Order 14155 in January 2025. U.S. officials stated that the nation has “freed itself from the organization’s constraints,” citing persistent failures in the WHO’s governance and its susceptibility to political influence. The administration clarified that all U.S. funding and staffing for WHO initiatives has ceased, and U.S. personnel have been recalled.
Rationale for the Exit The joint statement detailed several core grievances that led to the termination of membership:
Mishandling of COVID-19: The administration accused the WHO of failing the American people during the pandemic, specifically citing delays in declaring a global emergency and echoing inaccurate assessments from China.
Politicized Agenda: Secretary Rubio and Secretary Kennedy alleged the agency abandoned its core mission to pursue a “politicized, bureaucratic agenda” driven by nations hostile to U.S. interests.
Failure to Reform: Despite the global impact of the pandemic, the administration claimed the WHO failed to adopt urgently needed governance and transparency reforms.
Future of U.S. Global Health Engagement Moving forward, the U.S. will pivot from multilateral coordination through the WHO to a model of direct bilateral partnerships.
Direct Engagement: The U.S. intends to lead global health efforts through results-driven partnerships with other governments, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector.
Strategic Priorities: Future initiatives will focus on emergency response, biosecurity coordination, and health innovation to protect Americans while advancing global health security.
Limited Coordination: Any remaining engagement with the WHO will be limited strictly to finalizing the withdrawal process and safeguarding U.S. public health interests.
Policy Relevance
The U.S. withdrawal from the WHO significantly reshapes the landscape of global health governance and presents strategic considerations for India.
Global Health Leadership Vacuum: As the WHO’s historically largest financial contributor exits, India may face increased pressure to expand its leadership role in international health surveillance and the Global South’s advocacy.
Bilateral vs. Multilateral Funding: India must navigate the shift as the U.S. moves toward direct bilateral aid; this may alter how cross-border initiatives like polio eradication or pandemic preparedness are funded and coordinated in the region.
Surveillance and Data Sharing: The loss of U.S. participation in WHO-led networks, such as the Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System, may require India to strengthen its own independent data-sharing agreements with both the U.S. and the remaining WHO member states.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: How will the cessation of U.S. funding for WHO technical working groups impact the standardization of vaccine protocols and medical guidelines that India relies on for its domestic pharmaceutical industry?
Follow the full news here: US Terminates WHO Membership, Pivots to Bilateral Health Partnerships