U.S. Public Health Officials Directed to Halt Collaboration with WHO
NEW YORK — U.S. public health officials have been instructed to stop all collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), effective immediately. A memo from John Nkengasong, a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) official, was sent to senior leaders at the agency on Sunday night, mandating that all staff working with WHO cease their activities and "await further guidance."
This sudden halt has caught experts off guard and could hinder critical efforts to investigate and control outbreaks of the Marburg virus and mpox in Africa, as well as other emerging global health threats. Concurrently, health authorities globally are keeping a close watch on bird flu outbreaks among U.S. livestock.
The Associated Press obtained a copy of Nkengasong’s memo, which stated that the stop-work policy applies to "all CDC staff engaging with WHO through technical working groups, coordinating centers, advisory boards, cooperative agreements, or other means — whether in person or virtual." The memo further prohibits CDC staff from visiting WHO offices.
Last week, President Donald Trump signed an executive order initiating the process for the U.S. withdrawal from WHO, though this action does not take immediate effect. Withdrawing from WHO requires Congressional approval and necessitates that the U.S. fulfills its financial obligations for the current fiscal year, including a one-year notice period.
The Trump administration has also directed federal health agencies to limit public communications until at least the end of the month.
"Halting communications and meetings with WHO poses a significant problem," remarked Dr. Jeffrey Klausner, a public health expert from the University of Southern California who collaborates with WHO on initiatives against sexually transmitted infections. "Many believed there would be a gradual withdrawal; this abrupt decision has indeed caught everyone off guard," he added, explaining he learned about it through a contact at the CDC.
Dr. Klausner emphasized that interaction with WHO is essential, stating, "Talking to WHO is a two-way street." He pointed out that the collaboration enables the U.S. to gain insights into new tests, treatments, and emerging outbreaks — knowledge that is crucial for protecting Americans both domestically and internationally.
The CDC typically assigns nearly 30 individuals to WHO and allocates millions of dollars through cooperative agreements. The U.S. agency is home to some of the world’s foremost experts in infectious diseases and public health threats, with staff from both agencies in daily communication about health risks and strategies to mitigate them.
The cessation of collaboration is just one of the repercussions of Trump’s executive orders affecting global health initiatives. Last week, the president also froze funding for PEPFAR, or the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, a critical program credited with saving 25 million lives since its inception by Republican President George W. Bush, including 5.5 million children. This freeze on foreign aid funding is expected to last at least three months.
PEPFAR provides HIV medication to over 20 million individuals, and its funding suspension could jeopardize their treatment. International AIDS Society President Beatriz Grinsztejn warned, "If funding is halted, lives will be at risk, and HIV could resurge."
A U.S. health official confirmed that the CDC is indeed halting its work with WHO, speaking on the condition of anonymity due to the confidential nature of the memo. A WHO spokesperson directed inquiries regarding the withdrawal to U.S. officials.
Officials at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services did not respond immediately to an emailed request for comment, and CDC officials have not yet addressed the AP’s request to discuss Nkengasong’s memo.
