What the U.S. Leaving the WHO Means for Global Health—and Our Own

In 1948, in the shadow of World War II, the United States became one of the first countries to join the newly formed World Health Organization (WHO). At the time, the world had learned a painful lesson: Global instability thrives where health systems collapse, economies falter, and international cooperation breaks down. The WHO, as part of the United Nations, was created to prevent a return to that chaos by promoting global health, coordination, and shared responsibility. 

In 1948, in the shadow of World War II, the United States became one of the first countries to join the newly formed World Health Organization (WHO). At the time, the world had learned a painful lesson: Global instability thrives where health systems collapse, economies falter, and international cooperation breaks down. The WHO, as part of the United Nations, was created to prevent a return to that chaos by promoting global health, coordination, and shared responsibility.