As of today, the United States is no longer a member of the World Health Organization (WHO), resulting in a substantial amount of unpaid dues owed to the United Nations health agency, according to Stat News.
One year ago today, the US notified WHO of its decision to withdraw, triggering a one-year withdrawal period as outlined in a 1948 joint resolution of Congress. In practice, however, the withdrawal was enacted immediately as the Trump administration severed all ties with WHO following the announcement. President Trump cited various reasons for the departure, including dissatisfaction with WHO's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, concerns about dues payments, and accusations of the agency's alleged favoritism toward China. Though Trump sought to remove the US from WHO during his presidency, the Biden administration reversed the decision on day one in office, well before the one-year notice period concluded.
The joint resolution also required that the US fulfill its financial commitments to WHO before finalizing its withdrawal. Nevertheless, this requirement has not been met by the Trump administration. According to Stat, the US owes WHO $278 million in dues, a figure based on each member state's gross domestic product. This payment was intended to cover the country's membership for the 2024–2025 biennium, as WHO operates on a two-year budget cycle.
Historically, these payments have been processed through the State Department's international agencies bureau. However, a spokesperson for the department informed Stat that the US does not intend to settle its outstanding debt.