The United States officially withdrew from the World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday, despite warnings over the past year that the move could harm public health in the U.S. and worldwide.

The U.S. administration said the decision was driven by what it described as failures by the United Nations agency in handling the COVID-19 pandemic.

President Donald Trump had previously announced, through an executive order, that the United States would withdraw from the WHO on the first day of his presidency in 2025.

According to a joint statement issued by the U.S. Departments of Health and State, Washington’s engagement with the WHO will be limited in the coming period to ensure the effective implementation of the withdrawal process.