The move was announced in a joint statement by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who cited the WHO’s handling of the COVID‑19 outbreak and its failure to undertake institutional reforms as the primary reasons for the exit.

US officials accused the organisation of mishandling the early stages of the pandemic, saying it delayed declaring a global public health emergency and a pandemic despite mounting evidence of widespread transmission. They criticised WHO leadership for publicly praising China’s response even as concerns mounted over early under‑reporting, suppressed data and delayed confirmation of human‑to‑human transmission.

The administration also faulted the WHO for downplaying the risks of asymptomatic spread and for hesitating to acknowledge airborne transmission. US officials argued that these delays cost the world “critical weeks” as COVID‑19 spread globally.

Following the pandemic, the US said the WHO failed to undertake meaningful reforms to strengthen independence, improve governance and reduce political influence. Washington also questioned the integrity of the WHO’s investigation into the origins of COVID‑19, saying the organisation dismissed certain possibilities without full cooperation from China, which declined to share early genetic samples or detailed records from laboratories in Wuhan.

During the withdrawal process, the US halted funding, recalled personnel and redirected global health activities toward bilateral partnerships and alternative institutions. Going forward, the US says it will engage with the WHO only to the limited extent required to complete the disengagement process.

The Kennedy–Rubio statement said the US will continue global health efforts through direct cooperation with other countries, the private sector and civil society, with a focus on emergency response, biosecurity and health innovation designed to “protect America first” while supporting global partners.

–ChannelAfrica–