BY MIRABEL ODETA
The New York City Health Department announced on Wednesday that it has joined the World Health Organization’s Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network, a move that comes after President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the U.N. health agency. The decision places the nation’s largest city among a growing number of Democratic-led jurisdictions seeking to maintain direct ties with global public health systems despite the federal government’s exit.
City officials said participation in the network will strengthen New York City’s ability to prepare for and respond to infectious disease threats by connecting local health experts to an international pool of scientific knowledge, personnel, and emergency resources. The Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network, known as GOARN, coordinates responses to health emergencies such as pandemics, emerging infectious diseases, and other major outbreaks, and includes more than 360 technical institutions and organizations worldwide.
The move follows Trump’s decision to pull the United States out of the World Health Organization, a step that has drawn criticism from public health professionals who argue that global cooperation is essential in an era of rapid disease transmission. In response, several Democratic leaders have pursued independent participation in WHO-linked initiatives as a way to preserve international collaboration on health security. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has been outspoken in his opposition to the president’s approach to global health and multilateral institutions.
California Governor Gavin Newsom and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker have also said their states will join the global outbreak response network, signaling a broader effort by Democratic-led states and cities to remain engaged in international health coordination. Officials involved in GOARN say the network plays a critical role in mobilizing expertise and support during crises, particularly in low-resource settings and during fast-moving outbreaks.
In a statement, the New York City Health Department said that joining the network will give the city direct access to a global system capable of deploying trained staff and resources to affected regions, while also allowing New York City to both contribute to and benefit from shared surveillance data and technical assistance. City health leaders emphasized that the lessons of recent pandemics underscore the importance of timely information sharing and cross-border cooperation.
Acting Health Commissioner and Chief Medical Officer Michelle Morse said infectious diseases do not respect national or political boundaries, and stressed that protecting New Yorkers requires open channels of communication and collaboration with health experts around the world. She added that participation in GOARN strengthens the city’s preparedness at a time when global health threats remain persistent and unpredictable.
The United States formally completed its withdrawal from the World Health Organization last month, following a one-year waiting period triggered by an executive order Trump signed in January 2025. Since returning to office, the president has overseen the withdrawal of the U.S. from dozens of international and United Nations-affiliated bodies, arguing that they do not serve American interests. Those actions have been widely condemned by health and human rights experts, who warn that reduced engagement could weaken both global and domestic responses to future public health emergencies.
Original article
Comments