Trump administration completes US’ split from the World Health Organization

The US has completed its withdrawal from the World Health Organization, the US Department of Health and Human Services said on Thursday, finalizing a longstanding goal of President Donald Trump.

Trump tried to leave WHO during his first term, then gave notice through an executive order on the first day of his second term that the US would leave the organization. By law, the US must give WHO a one-year notice and pay all outstanding fees before its departure. The US still owes WHO roughly $260 million, but legal experts said the US is unlikely to pay up and WHO has little recourse.

“As a matter of law, it is very clear that the United States cannot officially withdraw from WHO unless it pays its outstanding financial obligations,” said Dr. Lawrence Gostin, an expert on global health law and public health at Georgetown University. “But WHO has no power to force the US to pay what it owes.”

WHO could pass a resolution saying the US can’t withdraw until it pays, but Gostin said it probably won’t risk creating further tension when Trump is likely to withdraw anyway.