One of President Donald Trump’s first acts in his second term was to signal the United States’ withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO). The decision ties back to Trump’s belief that the WHO mishandled the response to COVID-19 and his perception of the organization’s lack of transparency and accountability, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The exit became official on Jan. 22, 2026. While leaving won’t immediately change things, healthcare costs could potentially change for many Americans — find out how below.
