The US has officially withdrawn from the World Health Organization (WHO), one of its largest donors.
US President Donald Trump signed the executive order signaling the withdrawal a year ago, after criticizing the organization for being too "China-centric" during the Covid pandemic.
The US Department of Health and Human Services said it made the decision due to the WHO's alleged "mismanagement" of the pandemic, failure to reform and political influence by member states.
The WHO has rejected these claims and its director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said the withdrawal was a loss for the US and the world.
Washington has traditionally been one of the WHO's largest donors, but has not paid its dues for 2024 and 2025, which has already caused major job losses at the organization.
Although WHO lawyers suggest that the US is obligated to pay the arrears, estimated at $260 million, Washington said it saw no reason to do so.
"The WHO tarnished and destroyed everything America has done for it," said a joint statement from US Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
