The U.S. has officially completed its withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO), the Trump administration announced on Thursday.

Axar.az informs, citing ABC news, it comes exactly one year after President Donald Trump signed an executive order to begin the process of withdrawal.

The move was announced by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of State.

A senior HHS official said on Thursday that the WHO "strayed from its core mission and has acted contrary to the U.S. interests in protecting the U.S. public on multiple occasions."

For a country to leave the WHO, the United Nations says there are criteria including giving one year's notice and paying all the dues it owes.

The U.S. gave one year's notice when Trump signed the executive order. However, the U.S. currently owes more than $270 million to the WHO for the 2024-2025 period, according to the U.N.

The senior HHS official argued the U.S. is not under obligation to pay under the WHO's Constitution, which was adopted in 1948.

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