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US Withdrawl from the WHO and
CA's Expanding Role in WHO Coordination

In January 2026, the United States officially completed its withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO), ending more than 70 years of membership in the global health body. This followed a year-long process initiated by Executive Order 14155 in January 2025, which cited concerns about the WHO’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, lack of accountability, and need for structural reform.  The official HHS announcement can be read here: https://www.hhs.gov/press-room/united-states-completes-who-withdrawal.html

What the U.S. Withdrawal Means: Federal officials have described the withdrawal as a step toward restoring transparency, strengthening U.S. public health sovereignty, and shifting global health cooperation toward direct, results-driven partnerships rather than centralized international bureaucracy.  As part of the withdrawal, the federal government ended U.S. funding to the WHO, recalled U.S. personnel from WHO offices, and ceased participation in WHO governance bodies and technical committees. The U.S. will now pursue international public health cooperation through bilateral agreements and independent partnerships rather than through WHO structures.

This change does not eliminate U.S. disease monitoring or emergency response capacity. Domestic surveillance systems, CDC operations, and state public health departments continue to operate, and the U.S. remains engaged in global health efforts outside the WHO framework.

California’s Decision to Engage with a WHO Network: One day after the U.S. withdrawal was finalized, Governor Gavin Newsom announced that California would become the first and currently only U.S. state to join the World Health Organization’s Global Outbreak Alert & Response Network (GOARN).  The Governor’s official announcement can be read here: https://www.gov.ca.gov/2026/01/23/governor-newsom-meets-with-world-health-organization-director-general-announces-california-becomes-first-state-to-join-who-coordinated-international-network/

GOARN is a WHO-coordinated international network of public health agencies, laboratories, academic centers, and response organizations that work together to detect and respond to emerging disease threats, particularly those with cross-border or pandemic potential.  Through this participation, California seeks to maintain access to international surveillance data, collaborate with global public health institutions, and strengthen its preparedness and response capacity.

Important Clarifications: California is not becoming a member of the World Health Organization. Only sovereign nations can be full, dues-paying WHO members. Participation in GOARN does not involve formal WHO membership.  GOARN is a technical and collaborative network and but it does not grant WHO authority to impose policies, mandates, or regulations on California.  At this time, no specific costs, membership dues, or itemized operational expenses associated with California’s participation in GOARN have been publicly disclosed by state or federal officials.

What This Means for Californians: California’s participation in GOARN may provide earlier access to international outbreak data and facilitate collaboration with global health institutions. It may also support laboratory coordination, preparedness planning, and technical consultation during public health emergencies.

At the same time, participation in international networks raises important questions about data sharing, governance, transparency, and how external guidance is used in state-level decision-making. While GOARN does not override U.S. or California law, it does create additional channels through which international standards and recommendations may influence policy.  As with other recent initiatives, including the West Coast Health Alliance and expanded state-level public health coordination, this reflects California’s broader effort to build its own public health partnerships and leadership structures outside traditional federal frameworks. How these partnerships are used in practice will become clearer over time and deserves continued public attention and oversight.

The U.S. withdrawal from the WHO reflects longstanding concerns about governance, accountability, and effectiveness at the international level. California’s decision to participate in GOARN reflects a different policy direction, maintaining ties to WHO-coordinated networks despite unresolved questions about governance and transparency. Together, these developments signal a shift in public health coordination that deserves public scrutiny.

AVFCA will continue to monitor how these structures operate in practice, particularly with respect to transparency, accountability, data sharing, and the appropriate use of international guidance.

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C

Christina Hildebrand
President/Founder
A Voice for Choice Advocacy, Inc.
[email protected]
www.AVoiceForChoiceAdvocacy.org