The World Health Organization is set to implement cost-cutting measures and reassess which health initiatives to prioritize following the United States' announcement of its withdrawal, as indicated in an internal memo reviewed by Reuters. 

On January 20, the first day of his second term, US President Donald Trump declared the exit, claiming that the global health organization had poorly managed the COVID-19 pandemic and other health emergencies. 

In a memo dated January 23, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated, “This announcement has made our financial situation more acute,” The memo outlined plans to significantly reduce travel expenses and suspend recruitment as part of a broader strategy to save costs. 

A spokesperson for the WHO confirmed the authenticity of the memo but refrained from providing additional comments. 

On Thursday, the United Nations announced that the US is scheduled to officially withdraw from the WHO on January 22, 2026. 

The United States is the largest financial contributor to the WHO, accounting for approximately 18 percent of its total funding. The organization's latest two-year budget for 2024-2025 is set at $6.8 billion.