California takes a bold step as the U.S. exits the World Health Organization!
In a striking move, California's Governor Gavin Newsom met with WHO's Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at the 2026 Davos summit. The purpose? To discuss a united front against global health crises, even as the U.S. government withdraws from the organization.
Every week, at the crack of dawn, California's Department of Public Health joins a call to discuss international health emergencies. This call, organized by WHO, was once attended by the U.S. federal government, but now, California takes the lead.
The Golden State is the first to join WHO's Global Outbreak Alert & Response Network (GOARN), with other states like Illinois expressing interest. Governor Newsom vehemently opposes the federal withdrawal, calling it a reckless move that will impact all Americans.
Dr. Gavin Yamey, a global health expert, applauds this state-level initiative. He believes it's a strategic response to the federal government's retreat from public health responsibilities, ensuring states remain active in global outbreak responses.
But here's the catch: California can't become a full WHO member. WHO forums and meetings are often exclusive to national governments. However, GOARN welcomes a diverse range of participants, including non-profits, multinationals, academic centers, and sub-national governments like American states.
GOARN, with over 350 members, is a powerful alliance against infectious diseases and health emergencies. It was established in 2000 to address coordination challenges during outbreaks and has since played a pivotal role in managing crises like SARS, Ebola, and mpox.
Members of GOARN enjoy weekly briefings, outbreak updates, and access to WHO's Epidemic Intelligence from Open Sources platform, which scans global sources for early outbreak signals. Dr. Erica Pan, California's health director, highlights the benefits of this access, enabling the state to anticipate and respond to threats more effectively, especially with reduced federal health guidance.
The U.S. government has confirmed its departure from such groups, stating it will not participate in regular WHO events. Instead, it's pursuing direct health agreements with individual countries, a strategy that has sparked debate.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services defends this approach, emphasizing accountability and the expertise of American health institutions. But not everyone is convinced. Some conservative voices advocate for continued U.S. participation in specific WHO forums, especially those offering critical data and assessments for emerging diseases.
Brett Schaefer, from the American Enterprise Institute, suggests that platforms like the Epidemic Intelligence from Open Sources are invaluable and challenging to replicate outside WHO. He views California's GOARN membership as intriguing but unclear, questioning whether it's a genuine initiative or a PR move by Newsom.
WHO remains silent on California's participation, leaving room for speculation. Dr. Yamey warns of a potential divide between states that join WHO and those that don't, impacting the quality of information available to state leaders for public health decision-making.
California aims to collaborate with non-GOARN states, leveraging its resources and expertise to provide leadership in global health. This move could significantly influence how states engage with international health organizations and manage global health challenges.
And this is the part most people miss: As the U.S. redefines its global health role, the actions of individual states like California may shape the future of public health cooperation and crisis management. Will this lead to a more decentralized approach to global health governance, and what could be the implications?
