In a video address to the Seventy-Eighth World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. outlined the Trump Administration's decision to withdraw from the World Health Organization (WHO). The decision was formalized through Executive Order 14155 signed by President Trump on January 20, 2025.
Kennedy criticized the WHO for what he described as "bureaucratic bloat, entrenched paradigms, conflicts of interest, and international power politics." He noted that while the United States has historically been a major funder of the organization, other countries like China have gained significant influence over its operations.
“Like many legacy institutions, the WHO has become mired in bureaucratic bloat,” Kennedy stated. He further accused the WHO of failing to maintain transparency and fair governance. “The WHO often acts like it has forgotten that its members must remain accountable to their own citizens and not to transnational or corporate interests.”
The World Health Assembly serves as the decision-making body for WHO Member States. It is responsible for determining policies, appointing the Director-General, supervising financial policies, and reviewing program budgets.
Kennedy emphasized that global health cooperation remains important but expressed dissatisfaction with how it is currently managed under the WHO framework. “Global cooperation on health is still critically important to President Trump and myself,” he said, citing perceived failures during the COVID era as evidence of systemic issues within the organization.
He concluded his remarks by inviting international health ministers into "a new era of cooperation," suggesting they consider creating new institutions or reforming existing ones to be more efficient and transparent.