Project 2025 Tracker / What’s done, what’s next

6. Department of State · Major · Needs Congress

Restrict federal funding to the World Health Organization

Done

192 6. Department of State

“This will likely require greater restrictions on the supply of federal dollars to the WHO and other health-focused international organizations pending adjustment of their policies.”

What has happened

  1. Done

    Withdrawal took effect at the end of the notice period. Joint statement by Secretaries Rubio and Kennedy: "All U.S. funding for, and staffing of, WHO initiatives has ceased." The FY2026 appropriations act (Public Law 119-75, enacted 2026-02-03) contains no WHO line.

  2. Partially done

    The Rescissions Act of 2025 (Public Law 119-28) canceled $201.8 million of FY2024–25 "Contributions to International Organizations" and $436.9 million of "International Organizations and Programs" budget authority — the accounts through which WHO assessments and voluntary contributions are paid — among $8.6 billion of rescissions. Congress's part of the restriction, though the act does not name the WHO.

  3. Partially done

    Executive Order 14155 gave notice of withdrawal from the WHO and directed agencies to pause the future transfer of any U.S. funds, support or resources to it, and to recall and reassign personnel. Funding restricted by executive action; the one-year withdrawal notice period was running.

Research log

What was searched, and what didn’t count as evidence

Research notes

  • The Mandate asked for restrictions “pending adjustment of their policies”; what happened is a complete exit. Read as done because the funding supply is cut to zero, which is the asked-for direction taken to its end; the alternative reading (withdrawal is a different instrument from a conditional restriction) was also considered.
  • HHS press release “United States Completes WHO Withdrawal” (https://www.hhs.gov/press-room/united-states-completes-who-withdrawal.html) could not be opened; the State copy of the joint statement is the Evidence.
  • H.R. 401 “No Taxpayer Funding for the World Health Organization Act” (introduced 2025-01-14, referred to House Foreign Affairs) has not moved. The “needs an act of Congress” condition is met in substance by the rescission and by the FY2026 act appropriating nothing for the WHO (text read at https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PLAW-119publ75/html/PLAW-119publ75.htm; “World Health Organization” appears only in an HHS staffing provision).
Action
restrict
Object
U.S. funding for the World Health Organization
ID
521