The U.S. Just Halted Work With a Major Global Health Agency

U.S. public health officials have abruptly stopped working with the World Health Organization. The sudden order is raising concerns about how the United States will track and fight global disease threats.

Key Facts:

  • CDC official John Nkengasong instructed agency staff to immediately halt all work with WHO.
  • Staff are barred from attending WHO meetings or visiting its offices.
  • The move follows President Trump’s order to begin withdrawing from WHO, pending congressional approval.
  • Work on containing diseases like Marburg virus, mpox, and bird flu may be disrupted.
  • Funding for PEPFAR, a major HIV relief program, has also been frozen for at least three months.

The Rest of The Story:

On Sunday night, Nkengasong sent a memo telling senior CDC leaders to end collaborations with WHO “through technical working groups, coordinating centers, advisory boards, cooperative agreements or other means.”

This instruction came without the gradual rollout many experts expected.

Observers say the freeze could hinder crucial efforts to investigate or stop outbreaks around the globe.

Dr. Jeffrey Klausner from the University of Southern California described the decision as catching “everyone with their pants down,” suggesting that information flows both ways and helps protect Americans.

According to the memo, even in-person contact with WHO offices is now off-limits.

President Trump’s recent executive order to withdraw from WHO requires a one-year notice period, approval from Congress, and fulfillment of current financial obligations.

Despite these formal steps still pending, CDC workers have been told to stop most communications with the public until the end of the month.

Commentary:

The WHO’s record on health issues, especially during COVID, has been widely criticized.

President Trump previously cut funding to WHO and appears ready to do so again, suggesting this latest move is part of a consistent stance on the organization’s effectiveness.

For many, halting funds to WHO makes sense to ensure accountability and proper use of American resources. The abrupt pause may surprise some, but it fits a pattern of scrutiny toward agencies seen as unresponsive or inefficient.

The Bottom Line:

The United States is pressing forward to stop its WHO partnership, which may drastically change global disease surveillance.

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