New York City has joined the World Health Organization’s Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN), its health department said on Wednesday, following President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw the United States from the U.N. health agency.
The move places the city among a growing number of Democratic-led jurisdictions seeking continued engagement with global health institutions despite Washington’s formal exit from the WHO.
Background: US Exit from the WHO
The United States formally left the WHO last month after completing a one-year withdrawal period triggered by an executive order Trump signed in January 2025. Since returning to office, Trump has pulled the United States out of dozens of global and U.N.-affiliated organisations, arguing they do not serve U.S. interests.
Health and human rights experts have criticised the withdrawals, warning that reduced engagement could weaken global coordination on pandemics and other cross-border health threats.
Why the Move Matters
GOARN is a global outbreak response network comprising more than 360 technical institutions and organisations. It coordinates international responses to public health emergencies, including pandemics and disease outbreaks, by deploying expertise, personnel and resources to affected regions.
By joining the network, New York City gains access to shared data, rapid-response capacity and global expertise, even as the federal government distances itself from the WHO.
Political Context
The decision also reflects growing friction between Democratic local and state leaders and the Trump administration. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has been openly critical of Trump’s domestic and foreign policies, including his approach to international institutions.
California Governor Gavin Newsom and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker have also announced plans for their states to join GOARN, framing participation as a matter of public health preparedness rather than foreign policy alignment.
Official Statements
In a statement, the New York City Health Department said joining GOARN would strengthen the city’s ability to respond to health crises by linking it to a worldwide network of institutions experienced in managing acute public health events.
“Infectious diseases know no boundaries, and nor should the information and resources that help us protect New Yorkers,” said Michelle Morse, New York City’s acting health commissioner and chief medical officer.
Analysis: Local Defiance, Global Health Stakes
New York City’s decision underscores how global health cooperation has become entangled in U.S. domestic politics. While foreign policy is traditionally the domain of the federal government, cities and states are increasingly asserting their own roles in addressing transnational risks such as pandemics.
The move also highlights concerns among local leaders that disengagement from institutions like the WHO could leave U.S. communities more vulnerable to emerging health threats. By joining GOARN, New York City is signalling that, regardless of national policy shifts, it intends to remain plugged into global systems designed to detect and respond to outbreaks quickly.
As more U.S. states and cities pursue similar paths, the growing patchwork of subnational engagement raises broader questions about how global health governance will function when national and local priorities diverge.
With information from Reuters.