WHO starts cutting costs as US withdrawal date set for January 2026
The World Health Organization has begun cost-cutting measures in preparation for a US withdrawal next year, according to reporting by Reuters.
On his first day in office, President Trump signed an executive order to withdraw the US from the United Nation’s health agency. The country was a founding member of the WHO in 1948 and has since been a key member of the organization, which has 193 other member states. The executive order cited Trump’s long-standing complaints about the agency’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, dues payments, and alleged protection of China as the reasons for the withdrawal.
In a statement on Tuesday, the WHO said it “regrets” the announcement and hopes the US will reconsider.
