The New York City Health Department on Wednesday said it has joined the World Health Organization’s global outbreak response network following President Donald Trump’s withdrawal of the United States from the U.N. health agency.

Following the Republican president’s decision to pull the United States out of the WHO, some Democratic leaders have moved to have their regions join the WHO’s Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network, or GOARN, in defiance of Trump. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has been critical of the president’s policies.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, both Democrats, have also said their states will join the WHO’s global outbreak response network.

The network responds to public health events around the world, such as pandemics and disease outbreaks, and is made up of more than 360 technical institutions.

What they’re saying

“By joining GOARN, New York City gains access to a global network of more than 360 institutions and organizations that respond to acute public health events with the deployment of staff and resources to affected countries,” the NYC Health Department said in a statement.

“Infectious diseases know no boundaries, and nor should the information and resources that help us protect New Yorkers,” said New York City Acting Health Commissioner and Chief Medical Officer Michelle Morse.

Background

The United States formally left the WHO last month after completing a one-year waiting period following an executive order Trump signed in January 2025.

Since taking office, Trump has withdrawn the United States from dozens of global and U.N. entities, saying they do not benefit Washington. His actions have been condemned by health and human rights experts.