MENA Newswire, DAVOS: California has joined a World Health Organization coordinated outbreak response network, state officials said, a day after the United States formally completed its withdrawal from the U.N. health agency. Governor Gavin Newsom’s office said California is the first U.S. state to join the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network, known as GOARN, a partnership that links hundreds of public health institutions and laboratories worldwide to support detection and response to health emergencies.
The announcement followed Newsom’s meetings at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where his office said he met WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus to discuss cooperation on emerging health threats. The governor’s office said the state intends to remain connected to international disease surveillance and response channels even as the federal government ends U.S. membership in the WHO, a move completed on Jan. 22.
GOARN was established in 2000 and is designed to help rapidly identify, verify, assess and respond to outbreaks, particularly those that can cross borders. The network draws on expertise from public health agencies, academic centers, laboratories and response organizations. WHO materials describe GOARN as a mechanism for coordinating deployments of experts and technical assistance during outbreaks and other public health events that may require international support.
California’s move comes as the WHO faces a major gap left by the U.S. departure. The United States has historically been the WHO’s largest single contributor and, in recent budget cycles, accounted for a significant share of the agency’s overall funding. WHO leaders have said the loss of U.S. support has forced internal reductions, including management restructuring and staff cuts, as the agency seeks to rebalance programs and budgets.
Global network membership
California officials said the GOARN step complements other state efforts aimed at strengthening public health capacity and coordination. The governor’s office said California recently launched the Public Health Network Innovation Exchange, a state led initiative described as focused on modernizing public health infrastructure. It said the effort involves outside advisers with experience in U.S. public health agencies and academic and public health communication roles.
The governor’s office also pointed to multi state coordination efforts, including the Governors Public Health Alliance and the West Coast Health Alliance involving California, Oregon, Washington and Hawaii. The office said those groupings are intended to improve information sharing, emergency preparedness and alignment on guidance during public health threats. California officials also cited recent state legislation authorizing California to base immunization guidance on recommendations from independent medical organizations.
At the federal level, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said the withdrawal process began after President Donald Trump announced in January 2025 that the United States would leave the WHO. During the yearlong period, HHS said the U.S. halted funding, withdrew U.S. personnel from WHO activities, and shifted work previously conducted through WHO to direct bilateral engagements. HHS said U.S. coordination with the WHO would continue only in a limited fashion to effectuate withdrawal.
U.S. exit and WHO response
The WHO has said it regrets the U.S. notification of withdrawal and has expressed hope that Washington will return to active participation. The U.S. departure has also raised questions about financial obligations tied to assessed contributions and procedural requirements under U.S. law governing withdrawal, issues that WHO governing bodies and U.S. officials have referenced in public statements surrounding the exit.
California’s announcement underscored the prominent role states can play in public health operations, including surveillance, laboratory capacity and emergency response, while international networks coordinate expertise and information across borders. State officials said GOARN participation is intended to support rapid access to technical resources and collaboration during outbreaks, and to allow California institutions to contribute expertise to international responses when requested through the WHO coordinated system.