The New York City Health Department has joined the World Health Organization’s Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN), aligning itself with international disease surveillance efforts after U.S. President Donald Trump completed the country’s withdrawal from the World Health Organization. The move positions New York City within a global system of more than 360 institutions that respond to health emergencies such as pandemics and infectious disease outbreaks.
The decision comes amid political pushback from several Democratic leaders against the federal government’s exit from the WHO. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has been openly critical of the administration’s global health stance. Similarly, California Governor Gavin Newsom and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker have announced plans for their states to participate in GOARN, underscoring a regional effort to maintain international public health collaboration despite federal disengagement.
In a statement, Acting Health Commissioner and Chief Medical Officer Michelle Morse said that infectious diseases transcend borders and emphasized the importance of shared data and coordinated response. The U.S. formally exited the WHO after a one-year notice period triggered by an executive order signed in January 2025. The withdrawal is part of a broader shift away from several global institutions, a move that has drawn criticism from health and human rights experts.
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