US withdraws from the World Health Organisation

"President Donald Trump gave notice that the U.S. would quit the organisation on the first day of his presidency in 2025, via an executive order. According to a press release from the U.S. Health and State Departments, the U.S. will only work with the WHO in a limited fashion in order to effectuate the withdrawal. "We have no plans to participate as an observer, and we have no plans of rejoining," a senior government health official said."

"Under U.S. law, it was supposed to give one-year notice and pay all outstanding fees - around $260 million - before departing. But a U.S. State Department official disputed that the statute contains a condition that any payment needs to be made before withdrawal. "The American people have paid more than enough," a State Department spokesperson said in an email earlier on Thursday."

The United States has given notice to quit the World Health Organization effective on the first day of the next U.S. presidency in 2025 via executive order and will limit cooperation to direct bilateral work on disease surveillance and other public health priorities. The administration says it will not observe or rejoin and has ended funding contributions, disputing that U.S. law requires payment of outstanding fees before withdrawal. Outstanding assessed fees are around $260 million. The U.S. flag was removed from WHO headquarters, and experts warn that the exit could cause WHO budget shortfalls, staff cuts, and calls for replacement agencies.

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