U.S. Orders Public Health Officials to Immediately End Collaboration with the World Health Organization

The U.S. government has ordered the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to cease all collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) effective immediately. This unprecedented directive, shared in a memo from CDC official Dr. John Nkengasong, halts all agency partnerships with WHO, including technical working groups, advisory boards, and cooperative agreements. CDC staff have also been barred from visiting WHO offices.

Health experts warn this move could severely impact global efforts to track and control infectious diseases, particularly in Africa, where ongoing outbreaks of Marburg virus and mpox require urgent international collaboration. Public health authorities are also closely monitoring the spread of bird flu in U.S. livestock, further amplifying concerns about the sudden freeze in joint operations.

The Associated Press obtained the memo, which emphasized that all CDC staff must “await further guidance” before resuming any form of collaboration with WHO. The decision follows an executive order issued by Trump last week, initiating the process of formally withdrawing the U.S. from WHO. However, this withdrawal cannot take immediate effect and requires Congressional approval, meeting financial obligations for the current fiscal year, and a one-year notice.

Additionally, the administration has instructed federal health agencies to curtail most public communications through the end of the month, further complicating efforts to disseminate timely updates during health crises.

As the global community faces interconnected threats, the decision to suspend collaboration with WHO leaves many unanswered questions about the future of U.S. involvement in global health.