The United States has formally completed its withdrawal process from the World Health Organization (WHO), according to an announcement made on Thursday by President Donald Trump’s administration. The move comes one year after Trump signed an executive order initiating the withdrawal. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the State Department jointly confirmed the decision.

An HHS senior official stated that the WHO had deviated from its core mission and acted against U.S. interests in protecting American citizens. The Trump administration’s main criticism centered on the WHO’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, accusing the organization of delaying the declaration of a global health emergency. The administration also claimed that the WHO unfairly criticized Trump’s early travel restrictions on certain countries.

HHS further argued that countries like China contribute less financially to the WHO than the United States, yet no American has ever held the position of Director-General. Public health experts criticized the withdrawal, warning that it could weaken the U.S. response to future health crises.