California Becomes First U.S. State to Join WHO Global Outbreak Network After U.S. Withdrawal

SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
California has become the first—and so far the only—U.S. state to formally join the World Health Organization’s Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN), according to an announcement from Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office on Friday.

The move comes just one day after the United States officially finalized its withdrawal from the World Health Organization, a decision by the Trump administration that has drawn criticism from public health experts and state leaders concerned about global disease preparedness and response.

GOARN is a WHO-coordinated international network that connects hundreds of public health institutions, national governments, laboratories, academic centers, and emergency response organizations worldwide. The network is designed to rapidly detect, assess, and respond to infectious disease outbreaks and public health emergencies, strengthening global cooperation during crises such as pandemics, emerging diseases, and humanitarian health emergencies.

In a sharply worded statement, Gov. Newsom criticized the federal government’s decision to leave the WHO, warning of its potential consequences for both national and global health security.

“The Trump administration’s withdrawal from the WHO is a reckless decision that will hurt all Californians and Americans,” Newsom said in a news release. “California will not bear witness to the chaos this decision will bring. We will continue to foster partnerships across the globe and remain at the forefront of public health preparedness, including through our membership as the only state in WHO’s Global Outbreak Alert & Response Network.”

Through this partnership, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) becomes the only state-led public health institution in the United States to be directly represented within GOARN. While CDPH is the sole state agency involved, several other U.S.-based organizations—such as academic institutions, research centers, and crisis response groups—are also members of the network.

Among them is the One Health Institute at the University of California, Davis, which focuses on the intersection of human, animal, and environmental health and has played a significant role in global disease surveillance and outbreak response.

Newsom’s office noted that the governor discussed this collaboration during a recent trip to Switzerland, where he met with WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. The meeting focused on strengthening cooperation between California and global public health partners, particularly in areas of outbreak preparedness, early detection, and coordinated emergency response.

State officials say California’s participation in GOARN reflects its commitment to science-based public health policy and international cooperation, even as federal engagement with global health institutions continues to shift.