in effect
This is Executive Order 14155, signed January 20, 2025, directing the withdrawal of the United States from the World Health Organization (WHO). It is a presidential directive instructing federal agencies to begin exiting the WHO, stop related funding and negotiations, and stand up alternative arrangements for public health work.
It revokes the January 20, 2021 presidential letter that had cancelled an earlier U.S. withdrawal notice, so the withdrawal is back in motion. It orders the Secretary of State and the Office of Management and Budget to move “with all practicable speed” to pause future transfers of U.S. funds and resources to the WHO, recall U.S. personnel and contractors working with the WHO, and find other U.S. or international partners to take over activities the WHO had performed. It also revokes a 2021 executive order on COVID-19 response, directs that the 2024 U.S. Global Health Security Strategy be reviewed, rescinded, and replaced, and halts U.S. negotiations on the WHO Pandemic Agreement and proposed amendments to the International Health Regulations, stating those will not be binding on the United States. The Secretary of State must immediately notify the UN Secretary-General and WHO leadership of the withdrawal. The order cites, as reasons, the WHO’s handling of COVID-19, a lack of reforms, political influence concerns, and that China contributes nearly 90 percent less than the U.S. despite a far larger population.
The WHO is directly affected through the loss of U.S. funding, personnel, and participation. U.S. government employees and contractors assigned to WHO work are affected because they are to be recalled and reassigned, and agencies such as the State Department, OMB, the National Security Council, and the White House Office of Pandemic Preparedness and Response Policy are tasked with carrying out the changes. The order states it creates no legal rights or benefits enforceable against the U.S. government and must be carried out consistent with existing law and available funding.