Sacramento, California, January 24, 2026 – In a bold move highlighting deepening federal-state divides on public health policy, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced Friday that the Golden State has become the first—and currently only—U.S. state to formally join the World Health Organization's (WHO) Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN). The decision, revealed just one day after the United States completed its formal withdrawal from the WHO under President Donald Trump's administration, positions California as an independent participant in global infectious disease surveillance and response efforts.
Newsom's office issued a statement emphasizing the strategic importance of the step: "As President Trump withdraws the United States from the World Health Organization, California is stepping up under Governor Gavin Newsom—becoming the first, and currently the only, state to join the WHO’s Global Outbreak Alert & Response Network (GOARN), strengthening public health preparedness and rapid response coordination." The announcement follows Newsom's recent meeting with WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus during the governor's attendance at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where discussions focused on international cooperation for disease surveillance and outbreak management.
GOARN, established in 2000, is a WHO-coordinated collaborative platform that unites over 360 technical institutions, networks, public health agencies, laboratories, academic centers, governments, and response organizations worldwide. Its primary mission is to rapidly detect, assess, and respond to emerging public health threats with pandemic or cross-border potential. The network facilitates the deployment of experts, resources, and field teams to affected countries, enabling real-time information sharing, risk evaluation, and coordinated interventions. During the COVID-19 pandemic, GOARN proved instrumental in mobilizing global expertise to support overwhelmed health systems, underscoring the critical role of international collaboration in combating diseases that transcend national borders.
California's entry into GOARN, facilitated through the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), grants the state direct access to this network's tools, early warning systems, and collaborative mechanisms—even as federal U.S. participation ceases. While several U.S.-based academic institutions, NGOs, and crisis response organizations remain involved in GOARN, California's inclusion marks a historic first for a subnational government entity. Officials stressed that the move will enhance the state's ability to monitor and respond to emerging threats independently, protecting its nearly 40 million residents who represent about 12% of the U.S. population. If ranked as a sovereign nation, California would be the 38th most populous country globally and boast the world's fifth-largest economy, giving it significant stakes in maintaining robust public health infrastructure.
The announcement sharply criticizes the federal withdrawal. "The Trump administration’s withdrawal from WHO is a reckless decision that will hurt all Californians and Americans," Newsom stated. "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." The governor's office described the U.S. exit—finalized on January 22, 2026, after Trump issued notice on his first day back in office in January 2025—as undermining national security by severing ties to vital global early-warning systems.
The U.S. withdrawal revives a policy Trump first pursued during his initial term in 2020, citing the WHO's alleged mishandling of COVID-19 origins in Wuhan, China, perceived political bias, and failure to implement reforms or demonstrate independence from certain member states' influence. The administration paused funding contributions and limited engagement during the transition, with the State and Health and Human Services Departments overseeing the orderly exit. A State Department spokesperson defended the move, stating, "The American people have paid more than enough," while HHS confirmed the end of financial transfers to the agency.
Public health experts have warned that the withdrawal could delay U.S. access to critical outbreak intelligence, hinder coordination during future pandemics, and weaken global efforts against threats like novel viruses, antimicrobial resistance, or bioterrorism events. Diseases "do not respect borders," as repeatedly demonstrated by Ebola, Zika, mpox, and COVID-19 outbreaks, making interconnected surveillance networks essential.
Newsom's action fits a pattern of California asserting autonomy on health matters amid federal-state tensions. Since Trump's second term began, disputes have included deployments of National Guard troops to the state, differing approaches to vaccine guidance, and public health funding priorities. In recent months, Newsom has advanced initiatives like the Public Health Network Innovation Exchange (PHNIX) to modernize infrastructure, the bipartisan Governors Public Health Alliance for emergency preparedness and data sharing, and legislation directing reliance on independent medical bodies over certain federal CDC recommendations.
The move has drawn praise from public health advocates for safeguarding Californians through continued global ties, while critics in conservative circles view it as partisan overreach or unnecessary duplication. Internationally, WHO officials welcomed California's participation as a demonstration of subnational commitment to multilateralism, even as the federal U.S. role diminishes.
With California's vast population, diverse demographics, major ports of entry, and role as a global innovation hub, its integration into GOARN could serve as a model for other states or regions seeking to maintain health security linkages. As the world grapples with ongoing and emerging infectious risks, California's step highlights the enduring value of international cooperation in an era of geopolitical shifts and borderless threats.
