Trump Administration Orders Immediate Halt to U.S. Public Health Collaboration With WHO

Jan 27, 2025, 08:25 PM

U.S. public health officials have been instructed to immediately cease all collaborations with the World Health Organization (WHO), as directed by the Trump administration. This sudden decision, conveyed through a memo from CDC official John Nkengasong to senior leaders at the agency, has taken many by surprise. The memo mandates that all CDC staff engaging with WHO through various means must stop their work and await further guidance. This stoppage is expected to impact ongoing efforts against outbreaks of Marburg virus and mpox in Africa, as well as monitoring bird flu outbreaks among U.S. livestock. President Trump's recent executive order to begin withdrawing from WHO did not take immediate effect, as it requires Congressional approval and fulfillment of financial obligations for the current fiscal year. The cessation of collaboration with WHO is seen as a significant disruption to global health efforts and communication.