Governors in multiple states announce participation in the WHO’s Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network following the federal government’s exit from the United Nations health agency.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
A growing number of U.S. states are moving to join the World Health Organization’s Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN) after the federal government formally withdrew from the U.N. health body earlier this year.
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers announced Feb. 17 that his state will participate in the WHO network, describing the decision as a public health measure.
“We must do what we can to keep our kids, our families, and our communities healthy and safe,” Evers said during his State of the State address. “It’s as simple as that.”
The announcement drew opposition from Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-Wis.), who is running to replace the term-limited governor. In a statement posted on X, Tiffany said that if elected, he would withdraw Wisconsin from any WHO-affiliated network.
“During COVID, the WHO acted as a puppet for Communist China,” Tiffany wrote. “I led the fight in Congress against the WHO pandemic treaty and will always defend Wisconsin and America’s sovereignty.”
President Donald Trump directed federal officials to exit the WHO after taking office in 2025, citing concerns over the agency’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and resistance to reform. The United States completed its withdrawal in January.
“This action responds to the WHO’s failures during the COVID-19 pandemic and seeks to rectify the harm from those failures inflicted on the American people,” Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a joint statement announcing the departure.
Following the federal withdrawal, California became the first state to join GOARN, which the WHO describes as a global partnership that helps identify, confirm and respond to public health emergencies.
“We will continue to foster partnerships across the globe and remain at the forefront of public health preparedness,” California Gov. Gavin Newsom said at the time of the state’s decision.
Officials in Illinois and New York City also announced in early February that they were joining the network. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said Feb. 10 that participation would strengthen the state’s ability to detect and respond to outbreaks worldwide.
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis stated Feb. 13 that Colorado intends to become part of the partnership.
“We want to learn from health science around the world to help make sure Coloradans can get the most advanced and effective treatments for diseases,” Polis said in a statement.
“The unfortunate United States’ withdrawal from WHO reduced the ability of states to access global public health data. Disease does not stop at the borders, and preparedness depends on timely information and partnerships. Colorado is taking positive and immediate steps to ensure doctors and hospitals are better connected to global early-warning systems and scientific expertise so we can better protect Coloradans,” he added.
In New Jersey, lawmakers have introduced legislation that would authorize the state Department of Health to participate in the WHO network. The proposed measure states that involvement in GOARN and “other initiatives in international public health will enhance the State’s capacity for outbreak preparedness, situational awareness, workforce development, and coordination with domestic and international partners.”
The WHO’s Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network coordinates international experts and institutions to respond to public health emergencies. With the federal government no longer a member of the organization, state-level participation marks a shift in how some U.S. jurisdictions seek to maintain access to global disease surveillance and response systems.
The differing approaches among states reflect broader divisions over the role of international institutions in public health and the balance between state authority and national policy in addressing global health threats.
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