Governor Gavin Newsom of California revealed on Friday that the state will become the first in the United States to affiliate itself with the World Health Organization's Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN). This development follows the formal withdrawal of the United States from the World Health Organization, an action undertaken by the Trump administration that concluded close to 80 years of involvement with the global health agency.
Newsom articulated the state's decision as a vital step towards safeguarding public health amid escalating worldwide health risks. He criticized the federal government's departure from WHO, describing it as a reckless move detrimental to the well-being of both Californians and Americans in general.
In his statement, the governor emphasized the significance of joining GOARN, a collaborative network led by WHO which unites governments, scientific research institutions, and public health entities worldwide. The network's purpose is to facilitate the rapid detection, evaluation, and response to disease outbreaks on a global scale.
Through membership in GOARN, participants are positioned to exchange critical data, leverage international expertise, and coordinate emergency health interventions beyond their national jurisdictions, enabling more effective management of public health threats. Although California's alignment with GOARN does not alter the United States' overall withdrawal from the WHO at the federal level, it does empower the state to engage directly with essential international health initiatives.
This move is illustrative of California's increasing divergence from federal health policies since the onset of the Trump administration's second term. News outlets have reported that the state has been active in forming regional health partnerships such as the West Coast Health Alliance and the Governors’ Public Health Alliance. These coalitions strive to promote coordinated public health strategies independent of federal directives from the White House.
In sharing this update on the social media platform X, Newsom stated, "With @WHOGOARN, we will keep working to help protect Californians from public health threats," underscoring California's proactive stance in global health security.
By electing to participate in GOARN, California affirms its commitment to maintaining robust public health surveillance and response capabilities that transcend geopolitical boundaries, even as national policy shifts away from multilateral health collaboration.