WHO Funding Breakdown: US Exit Leaves $958M Gap

U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw the United States from the World Health Organization (WHO) will result in the U.N. agency losing its largest financial backer.

For the two-year budget period ending in 2025, the U.S. was projected to contribute $958 million—roughly 15 percent of WHO's total budget of $6.5 billion.

The majority of this contribution, along with much of WHO's funding overall, comes from voluntary donations.

Why It Matters

While WHO member countries are assessed annual fees based on their gross domestic product (GDP), nations and other entities can choose to contribute additional funds earmarked for specific health priorities.

Why Are There Calls for the WHO to Reform its Funding Model?

About 70 percent of the organization's overall budget relies on these voluntary contributions, which gives donors considerable influence over the agency's focus areas.

This financial structure has raised concerns within the agency about its independence in setting global health priorities.

In 2022, WHO members agreed to reform its funding model, aiming to shift to a system where countries' membership fees would account for roughly half of the budget by 2030.

Newsweek contacted the WHO by email on Tuesday requesting a comment.

What To Know

The WHO, a specialized U.N. agency, plays a critical role in coordinating global health responses, particularly in the face of emerging health threats like the COVID-19 pandemic, mpox, Ebola, and polio.

It also offers essential support to lower-income countries by distributing vaccines, medical supplies, and treatments, while setting global health standards and guidelines, including for issues like mental health and cancer.

Here's a list of WHO's top donors:

U.S.: $958 million

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation: $689 million

Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance: $500 million

European Commission: $412 million

World Bank: $268 million

Germany: $324 million

United Kingdom: $215 million

Canada: $141 million

European Investment Bank: $119 million

Donald Trump's Past Relationship with the WHO

This isn't the first time Trump has attempted to sever ties with the WHO. In July 2020, amid the global surge of COVID-19 cases, the Trump administration officially informed U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres of its intention to withdraw from the agency, halting U.S. funding in the process.

However, President Joe Biden swiftly reversed this decision on his first day in office in January 2021, reinstating U.S. support for WHO.

Yet, Trump effectively revived his stance upon returning to the White House, signaling that his opposition to the agency was far from over.

What Happens Now

As part of the fallout from Trump's withdrawal decision, U.S. public health officials were instructed this week to cease all collaboration with WHO, effective immediately.

This article contains additional reporting from The Associated Press.