New York City has become the first U.S. municipality to join the World Health Organization's Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN), following the federal government's formal withdrawal from the UN agency last month. The move positions NYC alongside California and Illinois as subnational entities maintaining global health ties despite Washington's retreat from multilateral cooperation.
The NYC Health Department stated Thursday that GOARN membership grants access to a network of 360+ institutions capable of mobilizing rapid responses to public health emergencies. "Infectious diseases know no boundaries," said Acting Health Commissioner Michelle Morse, emphasizing the need for cross-border collaboration.
This development follows President Donald Trump's completion of the U.S. WHO withdrawal process in January 2026, fulfilling a 2025 executive order. The administration has ruled out observer status, opting instead for bilateral health partnerships.
Global health experts continue expressing concern over the withdrawal's timing, coming as WHO members prepare to discuss $260 million in contested U.S. contributions at this month's Executive Board meeting. The agency previously warned the decision "makes both the United States and the world less safe," citing potential gaps in disease surveillance systems.
With the World Health Assembly scheduled for May 2026, observers anticipate ongoing debates about filling the funding and leadership vacuum left by Washington, which previously contributed 18% of WHO's budget.
