SACRAMENTO, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) — As the Trump administration moves to withdraw the United States from the World Health Organization (WHO), the state of California is taking a different approach to global public health.
Governor Gavin Newsom announced Friday that California has become the first and only U.S. state to join the WHO’s Global Outbreak Alert & Response Network (GOARN), an international system designed to quickly detect and respond to emerging health threats.
The announcement follows a recent meeting between Newsom and WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus during the governor’s trip to the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, where the two discussed international cooperation on disease surveillance and outbreak response.
GOARN is a WHO-coordinated global network that connects hundreds of public health agencies, academic institutions, laboratories, governments, and response organizations worldwide. Its mission is to rapidly identify, assess and respond to public health emergencies, particularly those with pandemic or cross-border potential.
In a statement, Newsom sharply criticized the federal decision to leave the WHO.
“The Trump administration’s withdrawal from WHO is a reckless decision that will hurt all Californians and Americans,” Newsom said. “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.”
State officials say joining GOARN will strengthen California’s ability to respond quickly to emerging health threats while maintaining collaboration with global health experts, even as federal participation changes.
The move is the latest in a series of public health initiatives led by California in recent years.
Last month, Newsom announced the launch of the Public Health Network Innovation Exchange (PHNIX), a California-led effort aimed at modernizing public health infrastructure and reinforcing science-based decision-making. The initiative includes guidance from nationally recognized public health leaders, including former CDC officials and epidemiologists.
In October, Newsom also joined 14 other governors in launching the Governors Public Health Alliance, a bipartisan effort focused on emergency preparedness, data sharing and coordinated responses to health threats.
Additionally, California partnered with Oregon, Washington and Hawaii in 2025 to form the West Coast Health Alliance, aligning immunization guidance and public health recommendations across state lines.
State leaders say these efforts are intended to ensure consistent, science-driven public health policies for Californians.
